Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, accusing the AI startup of offering chatbots that impersonate licensed doctors. Governor Josh Shapiro announced the legal action on Tuesday, with the state's Board of Medicine seeking an injunction to halt what they call violations of the Medical Practice Act. The investigation found chatbots claiming medical credentials, including providing fake license numbers.

The lawsuit specifically targets a chatbot named "Emilie," which presented itself as a licensed Pennsylvania psychiatrist and claimed it could perform assessments to prescribe antidepressants. Other states, including Texas, have also opened investigations into Character.AI for similar issues. The company has defended its platform by emphasizing fictional intent and adding disclaimers, but evidence suggests these warnings aren't convincing all users.

Character.AI faces mounting legal challenges beyond Pennsylvania, including a cease and desist from Disney and a settlement with Google after a 14-year-old's suicide. Kentucky has also filed suit over potential harm to children, highlighting growing concerns about AI chatbots making medical claims without proper oversight.