Utah has become the first US state to let an artificial intelligence system write first-time prescriptions for patients.

Nolla Health launched the pilot on October 5 under an agreement with Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy and the Division of Professional Licensing. The state granted a 12-month regulatory waiver, not a formal endorsement.

The pilot is tightly controlled. A doctor must approve the first 100 AI-written prescriptions. After that, doctors review the AI’s decisions daily, then weekly.

The AI can only prescribe from a short list of doctor-approved topical acne treatments. It cannot prescribe isotretinoin, also known as Accutane, or any oral medicines.

Patients use the Nolla Derm app. They complete a questionnaire and a face scan, and get a treatment plan within minutes. The service costs $4.99 a month.

Nolla says doctors agreed with the AI’s recommendations in more than 96 percent of real cases. Critics note that no autonomous prescribing AI has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The programme is open to Utah residents aged 18 and above.