AI and Therapy
People are using Artificial Intelligence (AI), for all kinds of things lately. There have been more and more stories of people turning to AI for therapy, and while I could spend all day getting into the “why” this is happening, I think it’s important to first discuss the dangers of AI and therapy.
This technology lacks the clinical skills, education, licensing, and judgement needed to be a therapist. Earlier this year, a teenager died by suicide because he turned to ChatGPT, (here is a link to the NYT article if you’re interested in reading it). In summary, this individual turned to ChatGPT for help, and instead of providing information for crisis help or encouraging him to talk to someone, AI guided him through completing suicide. This has sparked lawmakers to begin creating laws around AI, and developers to look into ways to have AI recommend crisis numbers.
AI can be such a cool tool, but it is important to remember AI is for entertainment purposes, AI is NOT a replacement for a therapist. If you choose to use AI, know the risks, and ALWAYS seek professional help if you are in need of mental health services.
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