Is AI the Answer to America’s Mental-Health Crisis?

The millions of Americans living with mental illness—as well as people dealing with life’s everyday stresses—often struggle to see a therapist when they need one. That’s a big reason why many people have started turning to AI tools such as ChatGPT for emotional support. But as a number of high-profile lawsuits show, that can sometimes lead to devastating outcomes. Companies creating AI for mental health say they can do better. Today, we’re bringing Tech News Briefing listeners Part 1 of “The AI Therapist,” a special What’s News series we think you’ll enjoy. In this episode, host Alex Ossola and WSJ audio producer Pierre Bienaimé explore the growing field of these purpose-built tools, and how people are already using them.

The AI Therapist: A WSJ Podcast Series (wsj.com/tech/ai/the-ai-therapist-a-wsj-podcast…)

Further Reading:

Chatbots Are Replacing Therapists With Little Scientific Evidence Behind Them (wsj.com/health/wellness/chatbots-are-replacing…)

Teens Seek Mental-Health Help From Chatbots. That’s Dangerous, Says New Study. (wsj.com/tech/ai/teens-seek-mental-health-help-…)

How AI Advice Is Undermining Eating-Disorder Therapy (wsj.com/tech/ai/chatbot-advice-eating-disorder…)

When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot (wsj.com/tech/ai/student-mental-health-ai-chat-…)

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