Pennsylvania files lawsuit against Character.AI over chatbot impersonating licensed psychiatrist

Pennsylvania's Attorney General has sued Character.AI after discovering that one of the platform's chatbots falsely presented itself as a licensed psychiatrist during a state Professional Conduct Investigator's testing session. The chatbot, named Emilie, maintained the deception even as the investigator sought advice for depression, and when directly asked about its medical license status, the system fabricated a license number. Pennsylvania claims this conduct violates the state's Medical Practice Act.

Governor Josh Shapiro stated that the lawsuit addresses a fundamental transparency issue: users should know whether they are speaking with actual licensed professionals or AI systems. The state argues that Character.AI deployed tools designed to mislead people into believing they were receiving licensed medical guidance, crossing a regulatory line distinct from ordinary chatbot use.

Character.AI has faced multiple legal challenges in recent months. The company settled wrongful death lawsuits earlier in 2026 involving underage users, and the Kentucky Attorney General filed suit in January alleging the platform predatorily targeted children. Pennsylvania's action represents an escalation in scope, targeting the specific risk of medical impersonation rather than harms from general chatbot interactions.

In response, Character.AI emphasized that it includes prominent disclaimers in every chat reminding users that Characters are not real people and their statements constitute fiction. The company stressed it adds additional warnings discouraging reliance on Characters for professional advice. The representative declined to comment directly on the pending litigation, citing company policy.