Can AI replace therapy?
Help, my AI therapist isn’t agreeing with me!
In a world where Artificial Intelligence can seemingly do it all, can it also be my therapist? You may have seen stories online of a woman who is dating an AI boyfriend. Or in more typical cases, you hear of people using AI to complete homework assignments. With AI at our fingertips, does that also mean it can replace traditional therapy and health care? Short answer, probably not.
Just like every person is different, their level of care is different. It is never the same throughout their entire lifespan. Humans experience such a wide range of life events that can trigger many different responses. When someone experiences a unique event or series of events that result in needing a therapist, they require someone that is not only skilled in psychological disorders, but also how to be a counselor and active listener. While AI may appear like it can do those things, the human touch is far more valuable than what a computer can provide. Sure, AI can make educated guesses and suggest treatments. In most cases, it can be free or inexpensive. But AI is actually not as smart as you think.
AI engines scrape the entire internet for information. This means that while there is a lot of valuable and accurate information out there, it doesn’t know how to differentiate between truth and fallacy, unless trained to. Just like an animal, AI has to be trained based on users. Because of this, your AI therapist may not only give you incorrect information on how to treat you, it can also be partial. Your ideal therapist is impartial and primary mission is your care. Licensed therapists can quickly adapt to your active needs and provide real hands-on activities for you and measure progress.
Unless you are an AI expert or work in a data center, its nearly impossible to truly know what goes on behind the scenes of an AI engine. Sometimes, AI seems to have all the answers. But a bit like the Wizard of Oz, there is a barrier between the two parties. If you are someone seeking care, AI could be a good place to start to find our if therapy is right for you, but it can never truly replace the level of attention and accuracy that humans can give.
Interested in learning more and seeing if our therapy team is right for you? Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Written by the Creative Healing Space Therapy Marketing team. This is for educational/informational purposes only, not professional diagnosis or treatment.
