Article Excerpt: A number of companies are building A.I. apps for patients to talk to when human therapists aren’t available… “The F.D.A. wasn’t built for these types of tools,” says Nicholas C. Jacobson, who directs a laboratory at Dartmouth College devoted to A.I. and mental-health innovation at the school’s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health. The agency’s expertise with drugs and medical devices doesn’t translate directly to chatbots. “As a regulatory vehicle, I think they themselves aren’t sure how this space should be regulated.” A company can spend considerable time and money trying to satisfy the agency’s safety protocols, while in the direct-to-consumer marketplace, where no such requirements exist, new chatbot iterations appear weekly. That means that most companies must choose between seeking F.D.A. approval and staying relevant.
Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/cvny5sf3
Article Source: The New York Times