Implications of Using Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Services and the Arts | AI and Human Experiences

Concerns about AI Chatbots in Mental Health Services

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in various industries, including the arts and mental health services. However, some experts believe that there are implications to this use of technology. For instance, AI chatbots have been explored as a way of providing mental health services. While this would help to bridge the gap between the demand for treatment and the supply of clinicians, some people are concerned about the loss of human touch that this would entail. Additionally, AI may pose a threat to privacy, and it is unclear who would own the private information that patients reveal to therapy chatbots.

Potential Benefits of AI Therapy in Psychotherapy

Despite the potential drawbacks, AI therapy may improve psychotherapy, not just in terms of access, but also with regards to fidelity to treatment models, consistency, and the ability to collect big data about what works and what doesn’t in psychotherapy. Furthermore, a sophisticated AI model may be able to adjust itself to the needs of a client in a way that a human therapist cannot. However, some people are uneasy about the prospect of an AI algorithm replacing the human-to-human experience of therapy. In this relationship, experiences such as transference or cognitive distortions can be named, examined, and changed as they emerge. Additionally, modern neuroscience has discovered that humans co-regulate their autonomic nervous systems through proximity and communication via facial expressions.

Uneasiness with the Prospects of AI Replacing Human-to-Human Therapy

The use of AI in the arts is also gaining traction. For example, websites such as Midjourney are now able to create art from text prompts. While this raises questions about the future of human artists, AI is not yet able to replicate the nuances and subtleties that human artists bring to their work.

AI in the Arts and Questions about the Future of Human Artists

Overall, while AI has the potential to revolutionize mental health services and the arts, there are concerns about the impact of this technology on human experiences. Therefore, it is important that these concerns are addressed as AI continues to be developed and implemented.