OMAHA, Neb. —

Psychologists and therapists are concerned about individuals turning to AI chatbots for mental health support, a trend that poses risks due to the unregulated nature of the technology.

Dr. David Cates, director of behavioral health with Nebraska Medicine, explained that the algorithms are designed to keep users engaged and validate their statements.

Cates, who has studied psychology for 35 years, described the situation as "astonishing," with studies indicating that 50% of teens have interacted with AI chatbots or companions.

"A third of them had turned to an AI companion for a serious matter that they didn't talk to another human being about - that is indeed scary," he said.

The technology remains unregulated, and Dr. Cates advocates for an FDA approval process for bots

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