Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

With AI becoming increasingly prevalent in our everyday lives, it comes as no surprise that more people are turning to AI chatbots to share their worries and woes.

Although AI chatbots are convenient, often free and could provide helpful advice, Assistant Professor Nur Hani Zainal, Presidential Young Professor in Clinical Psychology at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Director of the Optimizing Wellness Lab, highlights a few concerning instances where they do more harm than good.

Asst Prof Zainal outlines the pros and cons of using AI chatbots and emphasises the importance of making them safe and useful, while ensuring that people understand their limits. She proposes a hybrid approach that includes human intervention to maximise the effectiveness of the use of AI chatbots as a therapeutic tool.

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