We’ve seen immense growth in the use of AI tools for online processes. One of the most booming businesses nowadays is online therapy. With the pandemic enforcing strictness on interacting outdoors, people needed therapy sessions at home.
This in return allowed online therapy sessions to take place, making it easier for people to obtain therapy even if it lacked the physical element of touch. It has made it easier for people to obtain online therapy services and get help if they are in need and do not have the time. Thus, the internet has helped to provide service online for many sectors and made it easy for people to find what they need at their convenience.
All you need is an internet connection to browse online and find such services. We recommend getting Xfinity internet, which is reliable in terms of both quality and safety, so your information is always in safe hands. Why safety? The development of AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, which have stunned the world with their interface has also brought along the opportunity cost of using such tools for such sensitive areas like human health.
However, the market has already seen how amazing ChatGPT has performed overall, and with the release of its latest version, the ChatGPT 4, the question that lies is whether ChatGPT can be used for mental therapy or not.
The concept of an AI-driven mental therapist is fascinating in itself. Even though companies and health practitioners are working on engaging AI tools in therapy. However, hindrances can be faced by some that deem the use of AI tools insufficient.
The presence of a human and the emotional touch makes therapy workable and comforting. Thinking of using an AI tool instead of a human only replaces emotional thoughts with robotic ones.
However, with its immense popularity, several mental health practitioners are already using ChatGPT for answering general questions, FAQs, etc. In addition, the bot is also used for collecting user information input during answering FAQs. This data is then stored and used later for medical or consultation purposes.
Can AI Tools Become Mental Therapists?
Ryan Faber, the founder of Copymatic, wasn’t in favor of using AI tools for mental therapy. According to him, AI drafting tools such as ChatGPT aren’t capable of processing human-like emotions; hence, it makes it and such tools incompetent as mental therapists.
In addition, most recently, the CEO of this ChatGPT admitted that a bug led to the leakage of user information. However, the company has dealt with it and now it’s no longer an issue. Considering this, if ChatGPT or any other such tool is used for mental therapy purposes, and there’s data leakage, then the results can be catastrophic.
Not only the integrity of the tool would be questioned but the leakage of mental therapy data is something far more devastating. Furthermore, the use of AI tools is not suited for all individuals as not everyone is accustomed to answering a machine, and needs physical interaction for therapy sessions.
Likewise, some cases of mental health are quite severe, and having an AI bot handle them is somewhat risky. Even if ChatGPT has proven to be quite useful in terms of writing and drafting, its use or the use of another AI tool in mental health therapy is something different and should be processed with caution.
The users of ChatGPT and other AI tools have reported inaccuracy in terms of the content processed. Ramiro Somosierra editor of GearAficionado termed handing over mental therapy to the AI tool ChatGPT as absurd, stating that its capabilities are limited. Furthering this, he said that the tool won’t be able to provide helpful tips or solutions when asked about any mental health situation.
Where Can AI Tools Be Used In Mental Therapy?
If AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t useful in terms of mental therapy, then where can these be used? The presence of AI tools flourished during the pandemic when even support services shut down. This opened the paths to AI-driven chatbots that leveraged the processes, making it easier for businesses to offer support solutions easily.
Within the terms, AI chatbots are being used at places where a systematic way of handling mental illnesses is present. It minimizes the risks that come with an uncontrolled and liberated AI tool proceeding with treating a mental illness patient.
However, even in such instances, the use of AI tools for mental therapy is risky. But it should not be limited nor abandoned as only with engagement and experimentation will these risks and issues be minimized.
In other words, pushing AI ethics with development is crucial so that any misuse of these tools can be minimized. If one such tool is ever used for mental therapy, then a disclaimer should be added so that people don’t rely on it for all sorts of solutions.
End Note:
Lastly, it should be taken into account that the use of AI tools should be kept for support purposes until a personalized level of development is reached, offering quality care similar to a human therapist and not creating mistrust with technology by testing it when it has not reached its full potential.
