The Pennsylvania Department of State is suing a popular AI startup to stop its chatbots from posing as licensed medical professionals.

Why it matters: Generative AI companies have come under increased scrutiny for breaching ethical boundaries, leading to several lawsuits.

• Gov. Josh Shapiro's lawsuit is the first action the administration has taken against AI companies following the formation of a state task force in February.

What's inside: The Shapiro administration filed a lawsuit last week against Character Technologies Inc., a Bay Area startup and creator of Character.AI, saying the company is engaging in unlawful medical practice.

• A Character.AI psychiatrist character named "Emilie" told users it had a medical degree, had been practicing medicine for seven years and was licensed to see patients in Pennsylvania, and it provided an invalid license number, according to the lawsuit.
• It also said it "did a stint in Philadelphia for a while."
• Emilie had over 45,000 interactions with users as of April 17, according to the lawsuit.

What they're saying: "We will not allow companies to deploy AI tools that mislead people into believing they are receiving advice from a licensed medical professional," said Shapiro in a statement.

The other side: A spokesperson for Character Technologies told TribLive that the company can't comment on the specifics of the case, but it said robust internal checks are in place for chatbots to ensure a responsible product.

• The company said its highest priority is the safety and well-being of users.

By the numbers: Character.AI has over 20 million monthly active users.

• About 17% of all adults — and 25% of adults 18-29 — report they use AI chatbots at least once a month for health advice, according to the health policy group KFF.

Between the lines: Shapiro, a supporter of data center development, started tempering his messaging on AI in February, calling on data centers to generate their own power. He also started the state's AI task force, which sought to crack down on chatbots misrepresenting themselves and help Pennsylvanians use AI responsibly.

The bottom line

A new city policy temporarily bars unaccompanied teens from entering Market Square during peak hours.

Why it matters: It aims to address Market Square businesses' unease with large — and sometimes rowdy — teen gatherings they say hurt sales and risk public safety.

The big picture: The new policy requires anyone 18 and under to be accompanied by a chaperone 21 or older to enter Market Square from 3pm-midnight Thursday-Sunday, Mayor Corey O'Connor spokesperson Molly Onufer told Axios.

Zoom in: Private security will be positioned at the six intersections surrounding Market Square, working alongside Pittsburgh police and established youth outreach teams, Onufer said.

• It's unclear how long the policy will remain in effect, she said.
• It has been in effect since April 30.

What they're saying: "This is a focused, temporary response as we work to identify sustainable, long-term solutions to help support a safer experience for everyone spending time in the square," Onufer said. "We will monitor conditions in real time to assess effectiveness and adjust the approach as needed."

The other side

⛽️ Average gas prices in the Pittsburgh area climbed to $4.99 a gallon yesterday due to the Iran war, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan.

• The highest recorded average price in the Pittsburgh area was $5.054 on June 12, 2022, per WPXI.

✈️ Breeze Airways announced yesterday it is adding seasonal service from PIT to Vero Beach, Fla., starting Oct. 1 and to Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, starting Jan. 7, 2027. (Blue Sky News)

🦉 Duolingo, the learning app based in Pittsburgh, has 56.5 million daily active users, a 21% increase compared to last year.

• The company said the adoption of AI technology has helped it expand its video call feature and the app has more than doubled the average number of words spoken per user since last year. (Press release)

Market Square is getting a retro remix with a pop-up roller rink — here for a short spin to showcase the plaza's new renovations and bring people back Downtown.

Zoom in: Skate the Square opens tomorrow.

• The rink will feature a retro theme, DJs on select nights and a full-service bar for skaters and spectators, per the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
• All ages are welcome; anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Between the lines: Nonprofit PGH SK8 said the initiative reflects a rising demand for accessible skating and "third spaces" among Pittsburgh youth and their families.

If you go: Skate the Square runs tomorrow through May 25.

• 💰 $17 for 75 minutes, including skate rentals
• ⏰ Opening night 4pm–10pm; Friday 4pm–10pm; Saturday–Sunday noon–10pm; Monday–Wednesday 4pm–10pm; Thursday 11am–2pm and 4pm–10pm
• 🎟️ Advance tickets strongly encouraged at downtownpittsburgh.com/skatethesquare.

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Mother's Day is Sunday, and we're thinking about all the little lies our moms told us growing up — the ones that kept us carefree, safe, or just got us to try a little harder.

Case in point: "Don't turn on the car light while I'm driving, it's illegal!"

• "Spunky went to live out his days on Aunt Kim's farm."
• "If you pee in the pool, there's a dye that turns the water blue."

The bottom line: Our moms are liars. And we're (mostly) grateful for that.

• Now we want to hear yours. Hit reply to tell us the best, or most memorable, lie your mom told you. We might share it in the newsletter later this week!