(The Center Square) – With the strike of a pen, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could restrict access to mental health therapy that utilizes artificial intelligence.
House Bill 1806 is one of nearly 420 bills on the governor’s desk) that were passed during spring session. The measure regulates how AI can be utilized in the space of offering mental health therapy.
Kyle Hillman, with the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said the measure draws a clear line that AI can support mental health professionals, but it can’t pretend to be one.
“The law ensures AI tools in therapy are just that – tools – used under the supervision of licensed professionals,” Hillman told The Center Square. “They can help with documentation or scheduling, not diagnosing trauma or offering coping strategies.”
Neil Parikh, cofounder at Slingshot AI, a company utilizing AI in the treatment of mental health, said their tool helps people get quality, affordable care at a time when there is not enough access to mental health providers for the people that need it the most.
“Insurance may not cover it, they may be having to drive two hours to go to try to find a therapist and so we’re building technology that’s actually rooted in a clinical nature, it’s actually learned from how therapists practice out in the wild, but it’s actually designed to help people directly,” Parikh told The Center Square.
Hillman said filling a gap with unregulated, unaccountable bots isn’t the solution.
“[I]t’s a gamble with people’s lives,” Hillman said. “AI doesn’t have ethics. It doesn’t escalate when someone’s in crisis. And when it gets it wrong, there’s no malpractice insurance or license to suspend.”
Parikh said there are about 1,500 Illinoisans that will be cut off if the measure is signed. Passing laws prohibiting innovation without guardrails isn’t the solution, he said.
“This is going to be a real problem for the people in Illinois,” he said. “We’re talking about a measure that’s basically going to stop a lot of people from getting access to quality, affordable care that really doesn’t have measures in it to try to figure out how should we design safe systems, guardrails … mechanisms to actually help people.”
Hillman said the measure has guardrails.
“Illinois – now one of the first states alongside Nevada to pass this kind of legislation – has laid out a common-sense roadmap: here’s where tech can innovate, and here’s where the public needs protection,” Hillman said. “That clarity helps everyone.”
Earlier this month, Nevada’s governor approved a similar measure.
If signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, HB1806 will take effect immediately.
“As it stands today, people in Illinois are basically going to be denied, you know, really get access to care and thoughtful solutions, unlike, you know, almost every other state in the country, which is going to allow it,” Parikh said.
Hillman said they are not anti-AI. They are pro-accountability.
