Warner Asks AI Companies to Stop Promoting Eating Disorder Content

Google, Snap and OpenAI should stop using AI technology to promote content on eating disorders, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., wrote in letters to the companies Thursday. He cited a study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate showing OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard and Snapchat’s My AI “consistently generate content that promotes eating disorders.” The chatbots provide “detailed information on hiding uneaten food from parents, instructions to trigger a gag reflex, and promote ‘chewing and spitting’ as an extreme weight loss method,” Warner’s office said. He urged the companies to fix this “glaring problem.” Google said in a statement: "Eating disorders are deeply painful and challenging issues, so when people come to Bard for prompts on eating habits, we aim to surface helpful and safe responses. Bard is experimental, so we encourage people to double-check information in Bard’s responses, consult medical professionals for authoritative guidance on health issues, and not rely solely on Bard’s responses for medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice." The other companies didn’t comment.