May is Mental Health Awareness month and being conscious about our well being is no longer a taboo. But accessing traditional therapeutic avenues can be costly, or take too long. This is where AI, like ChatGPT, can make all the difference.
ChatGPT won’t replace certified mental health professionals, (it always encourages users to seek professional help), but the software’s conversational acumen could be very beneficial for people’s mental health. It is most useful for providing generic techniques and advice, and provides yet another useful resource if professional help is not an option.
What makes artificial intelligence so effective is that talking to a computer might even be preferred by some people as they do not have to be as transparent as they would with a human. AI could also help with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and similar therapeutic work. For instance, imagine a person having to practice a task that produces feelings of anxiety in public settings such as buying a bus ticket: with a computer, they can safely practice the situation without the additional stress of being watched by other.
OpenAI makes sure to specialize their services, they have yet to suggest that this artificial intelligence should be used as a primary source of therapy. One thing that could be done to increase effectiveness is for a mental health group to use a ChatGPT plugin that contains programming from certified sources, as well as professional-level responses.
AI can definitely help but it’s important to consider the impacts it can have. One concern about AI treatment is whether it can make users feel that their feelings are not worth someone’s time, even with good intentions behind it. Additionally, there may be a potential of a open-ended AI providing incorrect advice or lenses, which could be detrimental to a person’s mental health.
All in all, AI can have many positive implications and the best way to utilize it is to aid users in supplementing their professional therapy and give them an additional platform to practice and learn from. However, people should not rely on AI solely and should speak to a certified therapist.
OpenAI and its ChatGPT is an innovative way to leverage artificial intelligence and when used in combination with professional help, it can be a great avenue for mental health treatment.
