Intelligent Machines (Video) IM 822: The One Man Unicorn - AI In Psychiatry
Jun 5, 2025
Jacob Ward, a journalist and author of 'The Loop,' joins Daniel Oberhaus, author of 'The Silicon Shrink.' They dive into the ethics of AI in psychiatry, highlighting concerns about trust and the personal implications of sharing thoughts with machines. Their discussion navigates the potential risks of AI replacing therapists and the pervasive misinformation in mental health content, emphasizing the need for transparency and ethical standards. The guests humorously tackle complex topics, blending personal anecdotes with pressing questions about the future of mental health care.
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AI Therapy's Limits Revealed
- AI therapy tools like Wobot mimic cognitive behavioral therapy but disclaim not substituting human therapists.
- They address therapist shortages but lack the relational depth crucial for mental health care.
Use AI Therapy With Caution
- Understand the severe shortage of mental health professionals and the cost and stigma barriers to therapy.
- Use AI judiciously, recognizing its limits and the need for human care in psychiatry.
Barber's ChatGPT Therapy Story
- Daniel's barber learned about ChatGPT months late but now uses it daily for therapeutic conversations.
- The barber finds it low cost, stigma-free, and easier to open up than human therapy.
