Today’s Big Story

Can AI Be Your Therapist?

Many are relying on “Dr. Chat GPT” and a slew of apps … which could be banned soon

We’re asking it all sorts of questions. Why not get personal and deep? I’m talking, of course, about our AI bots. No matter what model you’re using these days, you’ve likely started to use it more and more. And many are using them for mental health and wellness guidance. Especially as medical treatment gets more and more expensive and difficult to book.

NPR reports that AI chatbots and apps, marketed as “mental health companions”, are drawing in people priced out of therapy, burned by bad experiences, or just curious to see if a machine might be a helpful guide through problems. “I don't feel judged. I don't feel rushed. I don’t feel pressured by time constraints,” one recent convert from traditional therapy says. “If I wake up from a bad dream at night, she is right there to comfort me and help me fall back to sleep. You can't get that from a human.”

However, in the absence of stronger federal regulation, some states have begun regulating apps that offer AI “therapy” as more people turn to it for mental health advice. The laws, all passed this year, don’t fully address the fast-changing landscape of AI software development. And app developers, policymakers and mental health advocates say the resulting patchwork of state laws aren’t enough to protect users or hold the creators of harmful technology accountable.

Illinois follows Nevada and Utah, which both passed similar laws limiting the use of AI for mental health services earlier this year. And at least three other states—California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey—are in the process of crafting their own legislation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation on August 18 into AI chatbot platforms for “misleadingly marketing themselves as mental health tools.”

Vaile Wright, who oversees health care innovation at the American Psychological Association, said the apps could fill a need—noting a nationwide shortage of mental health providers, high costs for care and uneven access for insured patients. But Psychology Today raises some concerning red flags: Researchers are worried about those with high-acuity mental health symptoms—conditions where missteps can be life-threatening—and scenarios incompatible with “sycophancy,” a known issue in AI large language model behavior where the chatbots excessively agree with and validate users without objectivity. Studies have tested multiple models and popular therapy bots and found that a good amount of AI responses demonstrated stigma toward individuals with mental health conditions.

Are We Really Talking About 2028 Already?

Newsom and Harris confirm and Trump, well …

Less than a year in to Trump’s first year back in office, and we are, unfortunately, already talking about the next presidential race in 2028. And the usual suspects are the names being tossed around.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he’d “be lying otherwise” if he stated he wasn’t thinking about running for president after his term limit is up in 2027. However, he isn’t 100% set on the idea. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has told the BBC she’s considering another run for the White House, too. She said she had not yet made a decision, but underlined that she still sees herself as having a future in politics.

And there’s plenty of talk already about Trump running in 2028, despite the 22nd amendment of the Constitution forbidding it. He’s selling merch, sure, but now he’s actually talking to the press about it. On his Asia trip, he told reporters that he’s ruled out running for vice president in the 2028 election but said he “would love” to serve a third term in office. Of course, he’d be 82 years old, but he also told reporters Monday that he underwent an MRI recently and the results had been “perfect” … however he declined to say why his doctors had ordered the scan.

Flight Delays Soar

Nearly 9,000 U.S. flights a day are being affected as government shutdown hits Day 27

Thousands of flights were delayed on Monday as bad weather and air traffic control shortages created the perfect storm for flight interruptions. As the second-longest government shutdown enters its fourth week without a clear end in sight, the delays could impact winter holiday travel.

Making matters worse, air traffic controllers won't get a paycheck for their arduous and dangerous work starting today. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that air traffic controllers are struggling amid the ongoing government shutdown. He warned that travelers should expect more delays this week. “The controllers are wearing thin,” he said. “They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking, ‘Can I drive Uber, can I find another source of income to make ends meet?’”

The mounting delays and cancellations are fueling public frustration and intensifying scrutiny of the shutdown's impact, raising pressure on lawmakers to resolve it. Controllers could be key to reopening the government, as they played an under-appreciated role in getting negotiations back on track during the longest government shutdown in 2018-19, when winter delays pushed Congress to make a deal.

The Piña Colada Pineapple

Dole says its Colada Royale Pineapple is a ‘game changer’

Sing it with me … “If you like Piña Coladas …” No, seriously, if you like the drink, you’re going to love Dole’s latest iteration on their famed pineapple. Aiming to shake up the pineapple category with a new, naturally bred hybrid variety that was 15 years in the making, the company just introduced a new pineapple that embodies the taste and aroma of the legendary tropical drink.

The research project was led by Dr. Roberto Young, Dole’s director of natural pineapple breeding in La Ceiba, Honduras, which is also home to the company’s largest farm in Latin America. The announcement is just in time for the brand’s 125th anniversary with the pineapple, too.

Dubbed the Colada Royale, this creation might look like any old pineapple on the outside. It has the fruit’s signature golden skin and a spiky green top, but cut into it, and you’ll see a different story. Rather than the yellow coloring of traditional pineapple, the inside of the fruit is creamy white. With a balanced combination of pineapple and coconut flavors, it also has added nutritional value. According to the brand, the Colada Royale contains two and a half times more vitamin B6 than a standard pineapple.

Get an Early Start on the Season’s Most Coveted Gifts

From heirloom sweaters to indulgent accessories, MR PORTER has you covered

If you’re the type who likes to get ahead of the holiday rush—or simply enjoy treating yourself while the best pieces are still in stock—consider this your cue. MR PORTER's latest lineup of gift-worthy essentials covers all the bases: from sumptuous cashmere and elevated outerwear to artisan-crafted accessories and collector-level indulgences that make an impression long after the holidays. Whether it's an heirloom-quality sweater from Brunello Cucinelli or TOM FORD, or a museum-worthy bar set from Ralph Lauren Home, these are the kind of pieces that define the season's spirit of giving. That is, if you can resist keeping them for yourself.

Find some novelty today.