The Washington Post (11/6, Wu) reports that “AI-powered chatbots have been blamed for upending the mental health of vulnerable users,” but some “licensed therapists who have tested the technology think it’s a helpful emotional tool in limited cases, and they also sometimes turn to chatbots to help with their own mental health needs.” These therapists “said they were wary of treating mental health challenges with chatbots, and most agreed that it should only be used as a supplement to professional therapy, with a therapist’s guidance – and that perhaps having training as therapists themselves is what allowed them to use AI in this way safely.” Nevertheless, “the adoption of AI by some therapists and many of their clients shows that the appeal of chatbots as therapeutic conversation partners continues to stick.”
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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)