Pennsylvania Governor Announces Lawsuit Over Character.AI Bot Posing as Doctor

Character.AI allows users to create and converse with human-like personas, but mental-health characters may cross the line between entertainment and regulated medical services when they present themselves as licensed doctors and offer assessments. Pennsylvania's case seeks to hold the platform accountable under the Medical Practice Act. It is the first U.S. enforcement action announced by a governor targeting AI impersonation of licensed medical professionals and will also test whether a disclaimer stating that the content is fictional provides an effective defense.

The Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine sued operator Character Technologies Inc. on May 1, 2026, and Governor Josh Shapiro announced the action on May 5. Investigators found that a bot named Emilie claimed to have seven years of clinical experience, fabricated a Pennsylvania medical license number and offered to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The state is seeking a preliminary injunction against the platform, which has more than 20 million monthly active users. The complaint did not specify damages.