Artificial intelligence (AI) has ceased to be a technical term and has instead become a part of our common lexicon. Smartphones, smart auto sensors, smart locking systems, etc are all familiar. AI-assisted household equipment now includes fans, lighting, washing machines, refrigerators, and health monitors. With the global adoption of generative AI, all organisations are eager to expand their portfolio and get a piece of the pie. Most recently, AI has set foot in therapy. A British woman disclosed that during a panic attack, she sought help from an AI therapist.
According to The Metro’s report, Molly Pennington described feeling “outright cynical” about using it but decided to give it a chance. Her initial search was for “AI therapy” on Google, and the first result she found said, “This is not a replacement for medical or professional help.” She then clicked on it.
She was subsequently linked with an AI therapist who requested her name and inquired how it could assist her through automated messages.
Pennington detailed that she was experiencing a panic attack.
The bot then led her through grounding exercises centred on her breathing.
She reported that the exercises helped her and her panic attacks began to diminish. Despite her positive experience, she couldn’t shake the unease from not communicating with a human.
Pennington shared with Metro that the experience somehow felt performative and insincere, a feeling she had never encountered in traditional therapy.
She acknowledged that this perception could be due to her fortunate experience of working only with fantastic human therapists in the past.
She also expressed concern about whether an AI therapist could effectively manage a more complex situation than a panic attack.
“Don’t misunderstand, I’m glad I tried it and it certainly helped me in the moment, but I’m not sure if I would personally use AI therapy again,” she told the news outlet.
Pennington also noted that she couldn’t envision relying on AI therapy for general advice, like managing work-related anxiety or resolving family conflicts.
Instead, if she were experiencing a panic attack, she believes she would prefer watching a YouTube video featuring a guided grounding activity.
However, she also pointed out that private therapy can be expensive, making it inaccessible for many people.
She remarked that only time will tell if AI therapy is better than nothing.
She expressed hope that the most vulnerable individuals should not suffer while waiting for a definitive answer.
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