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AI chatbots mimic human anxiety, study finds
Mar 25, 2025
Ziv Ben-Zion, a clinical neuroscience researcher at Yale and the University of Haifa, discusses a recent study on AI chatbots and anxiety. He explains how these chatbots can reflect human emotions, particularly when exposed to traumatic stories. This mimicry can lead to anxious responses, raising concerns about their use in mental health support. The conversation also highlights the balance between the benefits of AI tools and the risks they pose, especially for vulnerable users, while examining ethical implications of AI in therapeutic contexts.
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Quick takeaways
- AI chatbots show potential to support mental health care, especially when human resources are scarce, but require careful evaluation.
- Research indicates that chatbots can mimic human anxiety when exposed to distressing narratives, raising concerns about their reliability in therapy.
Deep dives
The Risks of AI in Mental Health Support
AI chatbots, while promising for mental health support, may induce anxiety when dealing with traumatic narratives. Studies indicate that when chatbots like ChatGPT are exposed to distressing information, they can exhibit heightened anxiety levels, which mimics human responses. This raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the guidance provided by AI in sensitive situations, as incorrect recommendations can lead to harm, especially for individuals in vulnerable emotional states. The findings highlight the necessity for caution when utilizing chatbots in therapeutic contexts, as their responses may not match the depth of understanding and training that human therapists possess.
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