From Skepticism to Support: Addressing Clinician and Patient Concerns About <scp>AI</scp> in Eating Disorder Care

While Linardon and colleagues reveal cautious attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) in eating disorder care, our recent empirical evidence suggests that specialized, expert-developed AI interventions can effectively support individuals at risk for eating disorders. However, unlike specialized AI, general-purpose AI (systems designed for broad tasks without specific clinical fine-tuning) often produces harmful content for eating disorder-related prompts, highlighting the need for specialized systems with strong ethical guardrails. Responsible AI integration requires balancing legitimate clinical concerns with evidence-based implementation, positioning AI not as a replacement for human providers, but as a complementary tool to expand access to quality care for the many individuals unable to receive traditional treatment.