The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has decided to remove hundreds of helpline staffers and volunteers after they voted to unionize, and now many of these positions will be replaced by a chatbot named Tessa. Cheddar’s Ashley Mastronardi spoke to one eating disorder expert who thinks this may have harmful consequences.
Update: The chatbot was taken down after reports that it was offering harmful advice. In response, NEDA sent Cheddar News this statement:
The Tessa chatbot was taken down over the weekend after it came to our attention that it provided "off-script" language. This was not how the chatbot was programmed, and X2AI/Cass' arrangement was to run the Body Positive program with zero opportunity for generative programming. We now know that over the weekend the chatbot was hacked and somehow was able to go off the pre-approved programmed responses. We will not be putting Tessa back on our website until we are confident this is not a possibility again.
Tessa has been available on our site since February 2022 and has had incredibly positive outcomes both in testing it before we launched on our website, as well as during the last year it has been available to NEDA users. Right now, the current program runs the Body Positive program for individuals at risk for an eating disorder - it is not a replacement for treatment and was never intended to be. It is designed to fill a gap for individuals with shape and weight concerns interested in tools before their thoughts and behaviors may progress to an eating disorder and need traditional professional interventions.
Weng Sor, a 62-year-old Las Vegas, Nev., resident, was also charged with attempted murder for his alleged attack Monday.
More details are emerging out of East Palestine, Ohio with officials discovering three additional chemicals following the Norfolk Southern train derailment and controlled burn of hazardous materials.
Cheddar News correspondent Shannon LaNier visited Dylan's Candy Bar in midtown Manhattan for a grand tour of what the legendary sweets shop has on offer for Valentine's Day. He also interviewed CEO Dylan Lauren, who served as guide through the iconic candy store.
It is still not known where the second, third, and fourth flying objects shot down by U.S. military fighter jets originated from, a White House spokesperson said Monday.
Armen Adamjan, @creative_explained on TikTok, joined Cheddar News to provide some useful tips on how to clean at home with some easy to find household items.
Authorities say a man driving a U-Haul truck struck and injured several people in New York City before police were able to pin the vehicle against a building.
Thousands left homeless by a massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria a week ago packed into crowded tents or lined up in the streets for hot meals Monday,
China on Monday said more than 10 U.S. high-altitude balloons have flown in its airspace during the past year without its permission.
It was the fourth object shot out of the sky by U.S. fighter jets in eight days, along with ones over Alaska and Canada and a suspected Chinese spy balloon.
Mourners gathered Saturday at a New York City mosque to remember a family of four from Queens who were killed while visiting relatives in Turkey.
