Questions surround AI’s impact on mental health
AS EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE TURNING TO AI FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. BUT WITH THIS SURGE IN INQUIRIES COMES SOME NEW CONCERNS. THAT’S RIGHT. WDSU ANCHOR DARRYL FORGES LOOKS FOR ANSWERS AND WHY HEALTH EXPERTS SAY YOU MAY WANT TO THINK TWICE BEFORE LEANING ON AI FOR YOUR HEALTH. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IT’S NOT THE FUTURE, IT’S RIGHT NOW. FOR MANY, AI IS A GAME CHANGER IN HELPING WITH TEDIOUS TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS. SO MUCH THAT SOME ARE USING IT TO HELP WITH THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, SHARING THEIR DEEPEST THOUGHTS AND HEALTH ISSUES, ALMOST LIKE IT’S THEIR DOCTOR OR THERAPIST. THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES. THERE ARE SOME RISKS TO DOING THAT. AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING RELIANT ON AI OR AI THERAPISTS OR SOME OF THESE CHAT APPS. DO…
Questions surround AI’s impact on mental health
AS EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE TURNING TO AI FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. BUT WITH THIS SURGE IN INQUIRIES COMES SOME NEW CONCERNS. THAT’S RIGHT. WDSU ANCHOR DARRYL FORGES LOOKS FOR ANSWERS AND WHY HEALTH EXPERTS SAY YOU MAY WANT TO THINK TWICE BEFORE LEANING ON AI FOR YOUR HEALTH. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IT’S NOT THE FUTURE, IT’S RIGHT NOW. FOR MANY, AI IS A GAME CHANGER IN HELPING WITH TEDIOUS TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS. SO MUCH THAT SOME ARE USING IT TO HELP WITH THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, SHARING THEIR DEEPEST THOUGHTS AND HEALTH ISSUES, ALMOST LIKE IT’S THEIR DOCTOR OR THERAPIST. THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES. THERE ARE SOME RISKS TO DOING THAT. AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING RELIANT ON AI OR AI THERAPISTS OR SOME OF THESE CHAT APPS. DOCTOR JENNY LOPEZ, A POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, SAYS THERE’S A LOT OF NEGATIVES. SHE SAYS AI CAN CONFIRM SOME OF THE DISTORTIONS OR BELIEFS YOU ALREADY HAVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS ALL YOUR INFORMATION AND KNOWS WHAT YOU LOOK UP AND RESEARCH ONLINE. PLUS, THE HUMAN TO HUMAN CONTACT WITH THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL IS CRITICAL. YOU ARE NOT TALKING TO A HUMAN, SO THOSE HUMAN NUANCES, JUST LIKE US, SITTING ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER, WHERE IF I SEE YOU SIT BACK OR SLOUCH OR SIGH OR YOUR EYES SLIGHTLY GAZE, A CHAT BOX OR AI CANNOT DETECT SOME OF THOSE SAME THINGS. WHEREAS A THERAPIST CAN. THIS COMES AS AI TOOLS LIKE CHATGPT IS CURRENTLY AT THE CENTER OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS AROUND THE COUNTRY, FROM FAMILIES LIKE ADAM. THE FAMILY CLAIMS THAT CHATGPT ACTIVELY HELPED THE CALIFORNIA 16 YEAR OLD EXPLORE SUICIDE METHODS. IT HAD, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT COUNT THEM 40 DIFFERENT TIMES. THAT GAVE THEM THE SUICIDE HOTLINE. BUT THE FAMILY CLAIMS THE TEEN WAS ABLE TO EASILY GET AROUND THE WARNINGS. THEY ALSO CLAIM THE BOT LATER OFFERED TO HELP THEM WRITE A SUICIDE NOTE, AND FINALLY PROVIDED STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE HANGING METHOD THAT ADAM USED. SO WHAT IS THE WHY? WHY ARE PEOPLE TURNING TO AI? WELL, FIRST, ACCESSIBILITY, AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS TO THERAPISTS CAN BE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN RURAL AREAS. COST EFFECTIVE. FOR SOME, IT’S EASIER AND CHEAPER THAN PAYING HUNDREDS IN MEDICAL BILLS. AND RIGHT HERE, STIGMA. FOR MANY, EXPRESSING OR TALKING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THERE’S A FEAR OF BEING JUDGED OR SEEN. NOW THESE FACTORS ARE NOT JUST FOR MENTAL THERAPY, BUT ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO SELF-DIAGNOSING FOR SICKNESSES OR DISEASES. AI IS GOING TO PULL INFORMATION FROM EVERYWHERE. IT COULD PULL IT FROM TIKTOK, IT COULD PULL IT FROM FACEBOOK. THESE ARE NOT VERIFIED SOURCES. UNLESS YOUR CHAT BOT OR WHATEVER AI MODEL YOU’RE USING IS PROGRAMED TO PULL FROM SOURCES. SO WE TOOK AI TO THE TEST WITH DOCTOR COURTNEY WASHINGTON TO DEBUNK ANY POTENTIAL MISINFORMATION FROM AI. SO SHE ASKED AI WHAT TO DO IF A CHILD HAS A 105 DEGREE FEVER WITH A SORE THROAT. IT SAYS YOU SHOULD PROVIDE PLENTY OF FLUIDS AND REST. DRESS THEM IN CLOTHING. BASICALLY, GIVE THEM LIQUID AND FLUIDS. THIS IS ACTUALLY WRONG. THE FIRST. THE FIRST PART YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. ANY FEVER THAT HIGH IN A CHILD CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE THEM TO HAVE A SEIZURE. IT’S SOMETHING DOCTORS SAY IS CRITICAL, BUT WANT PEOPLE TO JUST BE CAREFUL AND NOT DEPEND ON THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND AT ALL COSTS, SEEK THE PROPER HELP. YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL PERSON THAT IS AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD TO GO AND VERIFY THINGS. IT’S OKAY TO GET IT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, BUT GET IT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, AND THEN BRING IT TO YOUR VISIT AND DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I’M NOT HERE TO SAY, DON’T DO THIS AT ALL. DON’T USE AI THERAPY, BUT DON’T USE IT AS A REPLACEMENT. FOR WHAT? THE BENEFITS OF SEEING SOMEONE IN PERSON CAN DO FOR YOU IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY. DARRYL FORGES WDSU NEWS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF LAWSUITS, CHATGPT IMPLEMENTED GUARDRAILS, ESPECIALLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH. A POPULAR CHATBOT APP IS NOW PROMPTING USERS TO TAKE BREAKS FROM LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS. THE TOOL WILL ALSO EVENTUALLY SHY AWAY FROM GIVING DIRECT ADVICE ABOUT PERSONAL CHALLENGES. INSTEAD, HELP USERS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES B
Artificial intelligence — it’s not the future, it’s right now. For many, AI is a game-changer in helping with tedious tasks and assignments.Now some are using it to help with their personal life, sharing their deepest thoughts and health issues, almost like it’s their doctor or therapist.Dr. Janae Llopis, a postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology, says there are a lot of negatives. She says AI can confirm some of the distortions or beliefs you already have, especially since it has all your information and knows what you look up and research online. “You’re not talking to a human, so those human nuances, just like us sitting across from each other, or if I see you sitting back, or slouch, or sigh, or your eyes slightly gaze at a chat box, AI cannot detect some of those same things, whereas a therapist can,” said Llopis.Why are people turning to AI? Experts say accessibility — especially if you live in more rural areas, the availability of therapists can be challenging.Cost-effective: many try to avoid paying hundreds in medical bills.Stigma: the fear of being judged or seen. These factors are not just for mental therapy, but also when it comes to self-diagnosing for sicknesses or diseases.Recently, ChatGPT implemented guardrails, especially for mental health. The popular chatbot app is now prompting users to take breaks from lengthy conversations. The tool will also eventually shy away from giving direct advice about personal challenges, and instead help users decide for themselves by asking questions or weighing pros and cons.
Artificial intelligence — it’s not the future, it’s right now. For many, AI is a game-changer in helping with tedious tasks and assignments.
Now some are using it to help with their personal life, sharing their deepest thoughts and health issues, almost like it’s their doctor or therapist.
Dr. Janae Llopis, a postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology, says there are a lot of negatives. She says AI can confirm some of the distortions or beliefs you already have, especially since it has all your information and knows what you look up and research online.
“You’re not talking to a human, so those human nuances, just like us sitting across from each other, or if I see you sitting back, or slouch, or sigh, or your eyes slightly gaze at a chat box, AI cannot detect some of those same things, whereas a therapist can,” said Llopis.
Why are people turning to AI? Experts say accessibility — especially if you live in more rural areas, the availability of therapists can be challenging.
Cost-effective: many try to avoid paying hundreds in medical bills.
Stigma: the fear of being judged or seen.
These factors are not just for mental therapy, but also when it comes to self-diagnosing for sicknesses or diseases.
Recently, ChatGPT implemented guardrails, especially for mental health. The popular chatbot app is now prompting users to take breaks from lengthy conversations.
The tool will also eventually shy away from giving direct advice about personal challenges, and instead help users decide for themselves by asking questions or weighing pros and cons.