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Assembly committee backs ban on AI systems claiming to be licensed health professionals
Summary
AB 489 would prohibit AI systems from representing themselves as licensed health professionals and hold developers or deployers accountable; the measure drew wide support from medical associations and behavioral health groups and was reported out to privacy and consumer protection committee.
Assemblymember Rob Bonta introduced AB 489 to prohibit artificial intelligence systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals.
Bonta said the bill is designed to protect patients from AI products that present themselves as doctors, nurses or other licensed providers. “AB 489 will draw a bright line and say an AI system cannot represent itself as a health professional, period,” he told the Business and Professions Committee.
Physicians, behavioral‑health clinicians and unions spoke in support. Dr. Karthik Sarma, representing the California Medical Association, told the committee that while AI can assist clinicians, it must not impersonate professionals who undergo years of training. He cited journalistic investigations alleging dangerous instances of AI providing unsafe advice. “Allowing for an AI system to claim physician status could be dangerously misleading,” Sarma said.
SEIU California and other professional groups also backed the bill, urging accountability for developers and deployers of technology. Supporters contended the prohibition would protect vulnerable users — for example, teenagers seeking mental‑health help — from being misled by chatbots.
No primary opposition witnesses appeared. Committee members expressed bipartisan support and several sought to be added as coauthors. The committee voted to pass AB 489 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection; the clerk recorded the bill as reported out with 14 yes votes.
Why this matters: As AI chatbots and voice assistants proliferate, regulators and health professionals are weighing protections that preserve licensed‑practitioner standards and prevent deceptive representations in sensitive areas such as health and mental health care.
What’s next: AB 489 proceeds to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for further consideration.
