![]() ![]() Woebot cannot understand the deeply personal complexity of mental illness that only a genuine therapeutic relationship can bring, such as a person’s history of victories and failures, and histories of relationships with friends, bosses, and family members. Put simply, Woebot does not have the right-brain function of a psychotherapist who can read social cues and comprehend emotions by studying factors such as body language, tone of voice, or tears. Essentially, AI cannot perceive the nuance of the therapeutic assessment process. Woebot cannot identify the social and physical cues and behavioral patterns that individuals may display that show a rise or fall in their ability to function with depression, such as if they have not showered for days or if they are slouching or have trouble making eye contact. If a user tells it “I am feeling sad,” Woebot cannot adequately assess the level of sadness or how the sadness impacts a user in everyday life. In an attempt to understand Woebot better, I went online to see for myself the benefits and risks. But they are no replacement for human contact. ![]() Who needs a therapist who is expensive and hard to find when you can get an AI to listen to your pain 24/7? Applications such as Wysa and Woebot can serve valuable functions, such as offering simple personalized behavioral and self-soothing exercises much like a mindfulness app, that might be relevant to a given user’s momentary distress. Meanwhile, Woebot’s AI companion is online and asserts it is “always there to help you work through it.” In a world where 1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition in a given year, and 1 in 5 children experience depression, this seems like an appealing scenario. Wysa offers its users a virtual chatbot that is a “personal mental health ally that helps you get back to feeling like yourself” and is still in the experimental stage. Take, for instance, companies such as Wysa and Woebot. NEDA recognized the risk to patient mental health that AI chatbots were having and took action. For example, earlier this year, the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) took down its AI chatbot that was being used to replace human counselors on a helpline due to it providing harmful information to users, such as giving users with eating disorders dieting tips. There are genuine and significant mental-health ramifications for those who attempt to rely on chatbots as a therapy substitute. As this widespread adoption of AI continues, we will sadly see further job displacement, leaving many skilled human workers unemployed and worsening economic inequalities.Īs a psychoanalyst, the most pronounced and frightening use of AI is as a substitute for psychotherapy. This often leads to frustrated customers and potential damage to a brand as a whole. However, though these chatbots handle routine queries efficiently, they lack the ability to comprehend complex or emotionally sensitive issues. The most obvious example is in customer service where AI chatbots are increasingly replacing human agents due to their perceived efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It’s nearly impossible to open a newspaper or turn on the television without hearing some form of commentary about the benefits and dangers of the rapid progress in artificial intelligence technology. The emergence of this technology is significantly impacting various job sectors, leading to both opportunities and concerns. ![]()
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