AI Won't Replace Therapy — Yet
December 17, 2018
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5:51Now PlayingAI Won't Replace Therapy — Yet
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as posted by the channelAI’s rapid expansion isn’t just limited to manufacturing and IT industries. It’s also hitting the frontline of a field that relies heavily on a human connection: therapy.
A handful of startups have launched AI chatbots aimed at providing mental health support over the past two years. These conversational bots offer an instant, automated therapy, often programmed after cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a popular approach that dates back to the 1960s.
Wysa, Woebot and Youper are among the most popular therapy bots available to the public, with positive online reviews from users who dealt with issues like depression and anxiety. “It can see you on your worst day. It's also never going to get tired. It's there for you at 2 AM. Whereas a therapist isn’t.” says Alison Darcy, founder of Woebot, a therapy bot launched in 2017.
Charging minimal to no fees, these bots’ affordability adds to their appeal - so does the fact that they aren’t human.
A 2014 study funded by DARPA found that participants who believed they were speaking with an AI therapist were more likely to open up than participants who were told a human operator was behind their virtual therapist.
“Therapy for a lot of people is intimidating so if they feel like, “I can do this instead of seeing a therapist and I’m going to be cured,” - I think they're already starting off with an unrealistic expectation,” says Nicole Smith-Perez, a New York-based therapist practicing CBT.
Some psychologists are concerned that people might use bots instead of professional therapy, which is inaccessible to many due to the high cost and lack of access. A 2016 Health Affairs report found more than half of U.S. counties have zero psychiatrists.
There is limited independent research that evaluates the therapeutic value of therapy bots beyond impact metrics reported by chatbot companies. Tess, one of several specialized chatbots created by X2AI, claims its service helps reduce depression by 13% and anxiety and stress by 18%.
To avoid legal liabilities, some developers caution users AI chatbots are not the equivalent to human therapists. An initial conversation with Woebot, for instance, includes a warning: “This is not a crisis service or a replacement for a human.”
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