AI in Mental Health and Companionship
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AI chatbots are used for therapy-adjacent support and companionship. This sub-article expands Section 7 of Recent Topics and Human–AI Interaction.
Chatbots as Therapists
- Apps offer CBT-style exercises and crisis triage.
- Benefits: access, low cost, and reduced stigma.
- Risks: lack of clinical validation, liability, and crisis-handling failures.
Companionship and Loneliness
- People form attachments to chatbots (e.g., Replika, Character.AI).
- Studies show both benefits and dependency risks.
Safety and Ethics
- Misrepresentation as licensed clinicians is a concern.
- Data privacy and consent are critical.
- Some regulators restrict medical claims.
Why It Matters
Mental-health AI touches vulnerable users; evidence and oversight are essential.
Sources
- WHO. AI and mental health guidance.
- Studies on chatbot attachment (e.g., 2024).
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