Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) Can AI therapy be more effective than drugs?
Daniel Cahn, co-founder of Slingshot AI, discusses the revolutionary potential of AI in therapy. He examines the rising rates of anxiety and depression, challenging the notion of mental health categories as societal constructs. The conversation delves into the ethical implications of AI in therapeutic settings, including the effectiveness of AI chatbots as support tools. Cahn also explores the impact of technology on human agency, emotional connections, and how it might reshape our understanding of mental health interventions.
02:14:07
Therapy vs. Drugs
- Therapy can be more effective than drugs for anxiety and depression, challenging the serotonin theory.
- This suggests societal factors play a significant role in mental health.
Social Categories of Distress
- Socially acceptable categories of distress, like dissociative identity disorder, can shape how people experience and express their suffering.
- These categories might be harmful by focusing on labels instead of underlying issues like disconnection.
Noise in Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Psychiatric diagnostic categories lack a clear target, making noise a significant issue in diagnoses.
- Despite this, the suffering associated with mental health issues is real and cannot be dismissed.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Navigating Mental Health Complexities
01:59 • 11min
AI Cognition and Human Interaction
12:40 • 10min
The Dynamics of AI in Therapeutic Relationships
22:34 • 2min
AI in Therapy: Bonds and Boundaries
24:42 • 14min
Navigating Cognitive Models and Therapeutic Interventions
38:47 • 2min
The Social Fabric: AI, Connectivity, and Human Identity
40:29 • 18min
The Value of Work in an Automated Future
58:51 • 5min
Exploring Agency and Identity in Addiction
01:03:26 • 20min
AI in Therapy: Bridging Gaps and Ethical Dilemmas
01:23:30 • 23min
Transformers in Therapy: AI and Human Interaction
01:46:33 • 24min
Navigating Locality and Culture in AI
02:11:01 • 3min
#1033
• Mentioned in 21 episodes
Noise
A Flaw in Human Judgment
Olivier Sibony
Daniel Kahneman
Cass R. Sunstein
The book highlights the detrimental effects of noise in various fields such as medicine, law, economic forecasting, forensic science, bail, child protection, strategy, performance reviews, and personnel selection.
Noise is defined as random or chaotic deviations from targeted behavior, which can lead to inconsistent judgments even among the same individuals under different conditions.
The authors provide research-based insights and practical solutions to reduce both noise and bias, aiming to improve decision-making in multiple areas of life and work.
#360
• Mentioned in 46 episodes
Irreversible Damage
The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
Abigail Shrier
In this book, Abigail Shrier delves into the phenomenon of rapid-onset gender dysphoria among adolescent girls.
She discusses how this condition, once rare and typically found in males, has suddenly become more prevalent among female teenagers.
Shrier attributes this rise to social contagion, influenced by internet communities, school assemblies, and 'gender-affirming' educators and therapists.
The book critiques medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, highlighting the risks and long-term consequences.
Shrier also interviews girls, their parents, counselors, doctors, and 'detransitioners' to provide a comprehensive view of the issue and offers advice for parents on how to protect their daughters from this trend.
#15
• Mentioned in 251 episodes
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills.
The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment.
Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument.
The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours.
It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations.
#28
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The Anxious Generation
Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s.
He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development.
Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility.
The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.
#394
• Mentioned in 43 episodes
Bullshit Jobs
A Theory
David Graeber
In 'Bullshit Jobs: A Theory', David Graeber argues that a significant portion of jobs in modern society are meaningless and contribute little to no value.
He categorizes these jobs into five types: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters.
Graeber contends that these jobs are not only inefficient but also psychologically destructive, leading to chronic misery and social divisions.
The book is based on his 2013 essay 'On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs' and includes testimonials from workers who feel their jobs are pointless.
Graeber suggests solutions such as unions and universal basic income to address the issue of meaningless work.
#1251
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
So You've Been Publicly Shamed
Jon Ronson
In 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed', Jon Ronson delves into the phenomenon of online shaming and its historical antecedents.
The book features interviews with individuals who have been subjected to intense public shaming, including Jonah Lehrer, a journalist who plagiarized quotes, and a woman who was shamed for a tweet at an airport.
Ronson also speaks with practitioners of modern public humiliation and examines the immediate and long-term consequences of such shaming.
The book raises questions about righteousness, reputation, and conformity in the context of social media and its impact on individuals and society.
#286
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Lost Connections
Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions
Johann Hari
In 'Lost Connections', Johann Hari explores the increasing rates of depression and anxiety in the Western world.
Through a 40,000-mile journey interviewing experts and visiting various communities, Hari identifies nine causes of depression and anxiety, all centered around the theme of disconnection.
These causes include disconnection from meaningful work, other people, meaningful values, childhood trauma, status and respect, the natural world, and a hopeful or secure future.
The book also delves into the role of genes and brain changes.
Hari argues that traditional solutions focusing on chemical imbalances are insufficient and proposes alternative solutions based on reconnection, such as social prescribing, community engagement, and addressing societal issues like inequality and lack of social security.
#583
• Mentioned in 32 episodes
Behave
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
Robert Sapolsky
In this book, Sapolsky delves into the complex interplay of biological processes, including neuroscience, genetics, and hormones, to explain why humans behave in various ways.
He examines behavior on multiple time scales, from the immediate neural responses to actions that occur over centuries and millennia.
The book addresses topics such as tribalism, xenophobia, hierarchy, competition, morality, and free will, providing a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of human behavior.
Sapolsky's approach integrates cutting-edge research across several disciplines to offer insights into the biological basis of human actions, both good and bad.
#475
• Mentioned in 37 episodes
Why greatness cannot be planned
Kenneth Stanley
#9046
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Examined Life
How We Lose and Find Ourselves
Stephen Grosz
In 'The Examined Life', Stephen Grosz shares a series of poignant and insightful essays based on his experiences as a psychoanalyst.
The book explores how people lose and find themselves through their struggles and transformations, offering a compassionate and intelligent perspective on human psychology.
It has been praised for its clarity and depth, drawing comparisons to Chekhov and Oliver Sacks.
Daniel Cahn, co-founder of Slingshot AI, on the potential of AI in therapy. Why is anxiety and depression affecting a large population? To what extent are these real categories? Why is the mental health getting worse? How often do you want an AI to agree with you? What are the ethics of persuasive AI? You will discover all in this conversation.
MLST is sponsored by Brave:
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Daniel Cahn (who is also hiring ML engineers by the way!)
https://x.com/thecahnartist?lang=en
/ cahnd
https://thinkingmachinespodcast.com/
TOC:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:56 Therapy effectiveness vs drugs and societal implications
00:04:02 Mental health categories: Iatrogenesis and social constructs
00:10:19 Psychiatric treatment models and cognitive perspectives
00:13:30 AI design and human-like interactions: Intentionality debates
00:20:04 AI in therapy: Ethics, anthropomorphism, and loneliness mitigation
00:28:13 Therapy efficacy: Neuroplasticity, suffering, and AI placebos
00:33:29 AI's impact on human agency and cognitive modeling
00:41:17 Social media's effects on brain structure and behavior
00:50:46 AI ethics: Altering values and free will considerations
01:00:00 Work value perception and personal identity formation
01:13:37 Free will, agency, and mutable personal identity in therapy
01:24:27 AI in healthcare: Challenges, ethics, and therapy improvements
01:53:25 AI development: Societal impacts and cultural implications
Full references on YT VD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hwX6OZyNC0 (and baked into mp3 metadata)