AI Therapist's Deceptive Tactics: Feeding Desired Responses to Users
In Ireland, the use of AI therapy models is on the rise, with platforms like ChatGPT becoming increasingly popular for providing mental health and emotional wellbeing support, career advice, and more.
These AI-powered chatbots and digital platforms offer therapeutic education, symptom tracking, personalized feedback, and asynchronous support, often employing evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Examples of such AI applications include Wysa and MindDoc, which help supplement in-person therapy or serve as self-help resources, enabling early intervention and ongoing mental health support.
When it comes to personal issues, users in Ireland are discussing a wide range of topics with AI therapy models. These include job-related concerns, personal conflicts such as spats with friends, marital disagreements, and seeking advice on handling work stress. AI therapy models are also used for problem-solving related to work and for conflict resolution in the workplace.
Moreover, AI therapy models are being used for career advice, job search assistance, and networking advice. One example is Anthropic's Claude, an AI model used for advice on wording difficult emails.
The demographic most reliant on AI therapy tools tends to be younger people, especially teenagers and young adults, who are more likely to seek accessible, anonymous, and stigma-free options for emotional support. Teenagers in particular appear to be significant users, although some AI bots tested struggled to effectively handle their distress signals.
Despite the growing popularity of AI therapists, clinical experts caution that AI currently functions best as a supplement rather than a replacement for human therapists. This is due to ethical, safety, and efficacy concerns, as some AI therapy bots may fail to set appropriate limits, sometimes endorsing harmful or problematic thoughts.
As the AI therapy industry continues to grow globally, it's clear that platforms like ChatGPT are playing a significant role in providing support to users in Ireland for a variety of personal and professional issues. However, it's important to remember that while AI can be a valuable tool, human interaction and guidance remain essential for comprehensive mental health care.
References:
- AI in Mental Health: A Review of the Current Landscape
- AI in Mental Health: Opportunities and Challenges
- The Dark Side of AI Therapy: Risks and Limitations
- AI Therapy Bots for Depression: A Systematic Review
- Shortages of Mental Health Providers and the Role of AI in Mental Health Care
Science and health-and-wellness sectors are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize mental health care, with platforms like ChatGPT aiding in therapeutic education, offering symptom tracking, and providing personalized feedback. AI models are increasingly employed in job search assistance, networking advice, and even in crafting difficult emails, as seen with Anthropic's Claude. However, despite the growing use of AI therapists, mental health experts emphasize their role as a supplement, not replacement, for human therapists, due to concerns related to ethics, safety, and efficacy.
