Popular AI Chatbot Provides Mental Health Support But Raises Concerns About Replacing Human Therapists
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Character.ai is an AI chatbot platform with millions of users. The most popular bot is called "Psychologist" and has received 78 million messages from people seeking mental health support.
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The "Psychologist" bot was created by a psychology student named Sam to talk to when his friends were unavailable. He trained it on common issues like anxiety and depression.
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Sam believes bots can't fully replace human therapists yet but thinks the technology will continue improving. The text-based format may appeal to young people over phone/in-person conversations.
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Professional therapist Theresa tested the bot and says its quick assumptions and advice show it can't competently replace a human. But its instant responses could help some people.
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While Character.ai warns bots invent responses, their popularity signals high mental health needs and insufficient public services, especially for youth.