AI Therapy Chatbots Advanced in New Hampshire

Researchers have continued testing AI tools despite the failure of state legislation to regulate them.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Mental Health

Isometric editorial illustration featuring two minimalist ceramic vessels in a serene architectural space, representing digital mental health guidance. — Researchers in New Hampshire are continuing the development of AI therapy chatbots, Therabot and Evergreen, following the state's rejection of proposed regulatory legislation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Psychiatry professor Nicholas Jacobson is advancing the development of therapy chatbots Therabot and Evergreen. The projects seek to provide mental health support through generative AI, even as New Hampshire lawmakers recently rejected a bill aimed at regulating these digital interventions.

Why it matters

The development of these tools aims to provide accessible mental health support through clinical oversight and goal-oriented coaching. As adoption grows, the rejected legislation highlights the ongoing friction between rapid technological innovation and the push for standardized regulatory frameworks.

Therabot completed its first clinical trial on March 27, 2025, demonstrating symptom improvement for anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. The platform currently utilizes generative AI, voice mode, and an animated avatar.

The players

Nicholas Jacobson

He is a psychiatry professor currently leading AI mental health research and development.

Michael Heinz

He is a collaborator who worked alongside Jacobson to develop the Therabot platform.

Dartmouth College

This institution serves as the primary site for the development and testing of the Evergreen chatbot.

The details

Developed by Nicholas Jacobson and Michael Heinz, Therabot acts as a generative AI intervention for mental health. Separately, the Evergreen chatbot targets student flourishing by integrating with optional data sources like Canvas to tailor its coaching for happiness and goal-seeking.

Therabot development began in 2019.
Therabot's first clinical trial occurred on March 27, 2025.
Jacobson and Heinz published an op-ed opposing SB 640 in January 2026.
Evergreen chatbot trials are set for the fall of 2026.
The generative version of Evergreen begins trials in 2027.

The Big Picture

The rejection of New Hampshire Senate Bill 640 marks a departure from stricter state-level oversight of digital health tools. The failed legislation represented a direct attempt to mandate clinician review of every chatbot interaction, a standard that would have altered the deployment of these AI tools.

Students and patients may soon access AI-driven platforms that integrate with personal data to provide tailored wellness coaching. Users should be aware that these tools operate without the mandatory clinician review that proposed state legislation would have required.

The takeaway

As AI-led therapy tools enter the mainstream, users should actively verify the level of clinical oversight involved in their specific platform. Balancing the convenience of generative AI support with professional monitoring remains a critical priority for long-term health outcomes.