The silicon shrink – the worrying side of AI in mental health

Chat bots as therapists. Apps that can track your mood and behaviour, offering earlier detection of psychiatric illness.
There's a lot happening at the nexus of mental health and AI – some of it promising, some of it perilous.
Today, science writer and author of The Silicon Shrink, Daniel Oberhaus, takes us on a journey through this emerging space. We'll look at the potential benefits, the major limitations and the ethics of adding AI into our mental health mix.
And just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide, please take care while listening.
Guest:
Daniel OberhausScience writerAuthor, The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum (mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049351/the-silicon-shr…)
Credits:
• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano
Extra info:
• Meta preys on insecure teens, whistleblower says (theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/meta-…) - The Australian
• Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams says company targeted ads at teens based on their ‘emotional state’ (finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-whistleblower-sara…) - Yahoo Finance
• Comments on Research and Ad Targeting (about.fb.com/news/h/comments-on-research-and-a…) - Meta
Resources:
• Lifeline Australia (lifeline.org.au)
• Beyond Blue (beyondblue.org.au)
• 13YARN (13yarn.org.au)