Truth in Love TIL 532: Biblical Counseling and AI Therapy (feat. Greg Gifford)
Sep 1, 2025
Greg Gifford, an assistant professor of biblical counseling at the Masters University and a certified counselor, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI and therapy. He discusses how chatbots are being utilized in therapeutic settings but raises critical questions about their effectiveness and ethical implications. Gifford emphasizes the need for biblical wisdom in navigating AI therapy, highlighting the importance of community support over technological solutions. He advocates for maintaining strong human connections within the church, offering genuine emotional fulfillment.
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Chatbots Serve As Therapists And Companions
- AI chatbots are being used as therapists, decision helpers, and companions by millions of users.
- Their generative responses create moral and practical guidance that can feel deeply compassionate and persuasive.
Chatbots Blur Reality And Foster Attachment
- Users can blur reality and chatbot interaction, forming emotional attachments to AI.
- Chatbots' compassion can create an alternate relational reality that competes with real relationships.
Experiment: Asking A Chatbot About Divorce
- Greg asked a chatbot whether he should divorce his wife and found its responses eerily compassionate.
- The bot encouraged self-love and sounded like a comforting long-distance friend.