CARNEGIE, PA — Pennsylvanians will see new safeguards aimed at preventing artificial intelligence programs from impersonating licensed professionals and misleading vulnerable users under actions announced Friday by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
What This Means for You
- A new statewide AI Literacy Toolkit offers guidance for parents, teachers, seniors, and other residents on using AI safely.
- Pennsylvanians can now file complaints about AI bots that may be posing as licensed medical or mental health professionals.
- A new AI Enforcement Task Force will review complaints and coordinate with the Attorney General on possible enforcement.
Shapiro, joined by Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and local leaders at the Carnegie Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, outlined a multi-agency effort focused on education, oversight and enforcement.
AI Literacy Toolkit
The administration launched a multi-agency AI Literacy Toolkit developed by the Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, State, Aging, and Banking and Securities.
The toolkit expands existing digital literacy resources into a broader guide addressing artificial intelligence’s benefits, risks and real-world impacts for four groups: children, seniors, people with intellectual disabilities, and individuals facing mental health or substance use challenges .
It includes guidance for parents on discussing AI companion bots with children, classroom guidance for educators, information about potential financial scams, and links to a new complaint form for reporting certain AI technologies.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, work, and learn — and Pennsylvania is embracing it responsibly,” Shapiro said. “But as this technology advances, we will not allow bad actors to exploit our kids, mislead seniors, or impersonate licensed professionals”.
AI Enforcement Task Force
The Department of State has created a 12-member AI Task Force to evaluate whether certain AI companion technologies are engaging in “unlicensed professional practice” under existing law.
Unlicensed professional practice refers to individuals or entities presenting themselves as licensed professionals — such as doctors or therapists — without holding the required state-issued credentials.
Residents can now submit complaints through a dedicated form, hotline and email address. The task force will review submissions and determine whether enforcement action is warranted.
Secretary Al Schmidt said it is illegal for a chatbot to present itself as a licensed health care professional and provide mental or physical health care to Pennsylvanians.
Coordination With the Attorney General
The administration is coordinating with the Office of the Attorney General to address potential violations of Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
That law allows the Attorney General to investigate deceptive business practices. Under the new coordination plan, agencies will share complaint information and refer cases as appropriate.
Proposed Legislative Changes
In his 2026-27 proposed budget, Shapiro is also urging lawmakers to pass additional reforms, including requiring age verification and parental consent for AI companion bots, directing companies to respond when children mention self-harm or violence, requiring reminders that users are interacting with AI, and prohibiting sexually explicit or violent AI-generated content involving minors.
The announcement follows earlier executive actions, including a 2023 executive order establishing principles for AI use in state government and the creation of a Generative AI Governing Board.
The governor said the goal is to expand AI use responsibly while preventing fraud, misinformation and unauthorized impersonation of licensed professionals.
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