this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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A profound relational revolution is underway, not orchestrated by tech developers but driven by users themselves. Many of the 400 million weekly users of ChatGPT are seeking more than just assistance with emails or information on food safety; they are looking for emotional support.

“Therapy and companionship” have emerged as two of the most frequent applications for generative AI globally, according to the Harvard Business Review. This trend marks a significant, unplanned pivot in how people interact with technology.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (11 children)

Yeah, but also one of them is helpful and the other is the exact opposite. If the choices are AI therapist or no therapist, you are still better off with no therapist.

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (5 children)

that's easy to say, but when someone is in a crisis, I would be wrong to judge then for talking to an AI (shitty terrible solution) instead of a therapist that can be unaffordable and also comes with a risk of then being terrible.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (4 children)

a terrible therapist at least has an ethics board

a terrible therapist at least has evidence-based interventions on their side

a terrible therapist at lest has the fact that ~80% of positive outcomes have nothing to do with the interventions or anything the therapist does besides show up and be cool (a statistic I remember quite well from grad school)

AI has none of these things

therapy isn't fucking magic. it's a relationship. you can't have a relationship with an LLM. there's no such thing as AI therapy, you're just training it to tell you about CBT worksheets while you bitch about your problems like you're in a nail salon

ok.

but the problem is that real therapy is expensive, and unaccessible, while AI is freely accessible, even though it's shit.

and open ai is profiting from that.

I'm just saying the blame should be aimed at the corporations and the healthcare system, rather than someone who is desperate for help

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