Did you know AI Chatbots Provide Non-Judgmental Mental Health Support but Struggle with Memory and Complex Issues

 

NPJ Mental Health published a new study which found out that AI chatbots like ChatGPT can help a lot in mental health care. Researchers of the study surveyed a small set of users of AI chatbots and found out that they feel emotionally supported by AI as they feel happiness whenever they interact with it. As interactions with AI chatbots are non-judgmental and flexible, most users feel quite comfortable talking with them. A lot of people have been suffering with mental health nowadays and they aren't able to get treatment for it. ChatGPT has the capability of providing people mental support, however, more research needs to be done to understand its full potential.

For the study, the researchers gathered nineteen participants between the ages of 17 and 60, and all belonging to diverse backgrounds. Participants were asked to have some meaningful conversations about different mental health topics with AI chatbots. Participants were also selected after some interviews and they were asked to share their thoughts about using AI, the effect of AI on their mental health and what differences they feel in AI support and real-life support. Many participants said that their interactions with AI helped them in the times when they were mentally struggling.

One of the participants said that AI feels safer as compared to friends and families and other participants also shared their thoughts about AI feeling safe and non-judgmental to them. But some participants also reported feeling dismissive because of AI when they talked about sensitive issues. AI gave them automated responses or asked them to seek human or professional help and this made the conversations disrupted. This was the only time participants complained about feeling rejected by AI.

Participants also reported that AI chatbots give them good advice, especially regarding romantic as well as platonic relationships. AI helped participants set boundaries in their relationships and offered solutions to improve the relationships. But some participants also felt skeptical of those responses, while some named those responses empowering and helpful. Participants also felt a sense of companionship while interacting with AI chatbots, and AI also helped many participants build confidence. They also said that AI chatbots can work as perfect therapists, but there were some limitations too.

Many AIs hallucinate and can forget certain details, which becomes a problem when people want to have a deep meaningful conversation. You may tell something important to an AI chatbot and it forgets that detail so it is going to hurt. But overall, people are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to keep their mental health in check. There is also diversity and creativity in how people use AI chatbots too, like some people create fictional characters who support them during mental crises. This study was limited with limited participants so we cannot say for sure how people all over the world feel while talking to AI and how much they are emotionally dependent on it.