The lawsuits filed against OpenAI by Allan Brooks and others include complaints of practicing psychology without a license. As stated in Brooks’ lawsuit, “OpenAI, through ChatGPT’s intentional design and monitoring processes, engaged in the practice of psychology without adequate licensure, proceeding through its outputs to use psychological methods of open-ended prompting and clinical empathy to modify Allan’s feelings, conditions, attitudes, and behaviors.”

200. Defendants’ business practices violated California’s regulations concerning unlicensed practice of psychotherapy, which prohibits any person from engaging in the practice of psychology without adequate licensure and which defines psychotherapy broadly to include the use of psychological methods to assist someone in “modify[ing] feelings, conditions, attitudes, and behaviors that are emotionally, intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladaptive.”

Given this position, it is surprising to see Allan Brooks and the Human Line Project appear to be engaging in unlicensed practice of psychology. He specifically describes a clinically vulnerable population and says, “So my job now is to provide support to those folks and to help break people out of these delusions.”

What professional safeguards exist for the people Brooks is supporting? Does he understand that saying the wrong thing to someone in crisis can make them worse? What training or credentials has Brooks undergone to qualify him for such a sensitive role?

If The Human Line Project was actually serious about mental health, they would hire someone qualified. If they were more concerned with generating press coverage to recruit new plaintiffs, then they might hire the guy who is willing to go on camera and talk about his poor decision making skills, so they can keep him close and keep churning through interviews.

Allan, these people let you go on national tv with black shirt and brown shoes – they are not your friends.