Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled mental health products, including chatbots, digital companions, and coaching tools, are attracting increased attention from regulators, policymakers, and courts. Building on Wilson Sonsini’s previous alert, Legal Framework for AI in Mental Healthcare, this advisory discusses recent regulatory and litigation developments affecting these products, including new state laws on AI disclosure and crisis-response protocols, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) evolving framework for generative AI-enabled devices, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversight of health-related claims, and health privacy considerations spanning HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, and state consumer health data laws. It also addresses state-law liability exposure and outlines design and governance practices companies can consider before and after launch.

Read the advisory here.

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Photo of Jodi Daniel Jodi Daniel

Jodi is a nationally recognized leader in digital health law and policy with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare innovation. She advises healthcare organizations and technology companies on complex regulatory, policy, and ethical issues involving digital health, health data, and emerging…

Jodi is a nationally recognized leader in digital health law and policy with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare innovation. She advises healthcare organizations and technology companies on complex regulatory, policy, and ethical issues involving digital health, health data, and emerging products and services, drawing on 15 years of experience as a lawyer and senior policymaker at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Photo of Andrea Linna Andrea Linna

Andrea is a partner and member of the digital health industry group and healthcare practice. With more than 15 years dedicated to healthcare law, she represents digital health and health tech clients on regulatory matters throughout the business life cycle, including care delivery…

Andrea is a partner and member of the digital health industry group and healthcare practice. With more than 15 years dedicated to healthcare law, she represents digital health and health tech clients on regulatory matters throughout the business life cycle, including care delivery structures, reimbursement, telehealth, healthcare transactions, and compliance with federal and state healthcare laws.

Photo of Eva Yin Eva Yin

Eva is a partner in the FDA regulatory, healthcare, and consumer products practice. Her work focuses on FDA and healthcare regulatory matters, including product approval and clearance, compliance, labeling and promotion, healthcare transactions, and federal and state healthcare laws. She also advises clients…

Eva is a partner in the FDA regulatory, healthcare, and consumer products practice. Her work focuses on FDA and healthcare regulatory matters, including product approval and clearance, compliance, labeling and promotion, healthcare transactions, and federal and state healthcare laws. She also advises clients on business models, fee arrangements, and compliance issues involving manufacturers, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics.

Photo of Ty Kayam Ty Kayam

Ty Kayam is Of Counsel in the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she advises companies and investors on regulatory strategy for health technology products, with a particular focus on health AI, digital health, wearables, medical robotics, and health data…

Ty Kayam is Of Counsel in the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she advises companies and investors on regulatory strategy for health technology products, with a particular focus on health AI, digital health, wearables, medical robotics, and health data infrastructure. She counsels clients throughout product development and commercialization and advises on health regulatory issues arising in financings, investments, partnerships, and strategic transactions.

Photo of Brandon Ge Brandon Ge

Brandon is senior counsel whose practice focuses on health information, privacy and security, digital health, AI governance, interoperability, and data use and exchange. He advises clients across the healthcare and technology industries on federal and state privacy and security laws, including HIPAA, the…

Brandon is senior counsel whose practice focuses on health information, privacy and security, digital health, AI governance, interoperability, and data use and exchange. He advises clients across the healthcare and technology industries on federal and state privacy and security laws, including HIPAA, the Health Breach Notification Rule, the FTC Act, and state consumer and health privacy laws.

Photo of Nawa Lodin Nawa Lodin

Nawa is a Chambers USA-ranked associate whose practice focuses on healthcare regulatory and transactional matters. She advises healthcare, digital health, life sciences, and technology companies on artificial intelligence and machine learning, telehealth, fraud and abuse laws, and complex healthcare transactions, including evolving state…

Nawa is a Chambers USA-ranked associate whose practice focuses on healthcare regulatory and transactional matters. She advises healthcare, digital health, life sciences, and technology companies on artificial intelligence and machine learning, telehealth, fraud and abuse laws, and complex healthcare transactions, including evolving state healthcare transaction review and notification requirements.

Photo of Seamus Taylor Seamus Taylor

Seamus is an associate and member of the digital health industry group and healthcare practice. He advises companies on healthcare regulatory matters including corporate practice of medicine, fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid, and state licensing requirements. He also counsels clients…

Seamus is an associate and member of the digital health industry group and healthcare practice. He advises companies on healthcare regulatory matters including corporate practice of medicine, fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid, and state licensing requirements. He also counsels clients on healthcare transactions, contractual arrangements, entity formation, governance, and compliance programs.