*Content Warning:  This blog post contains a discussion of suicide.  Please take care while reading. If you are in crisis or need support, please dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 

It is hard to believe that what we know as AI actually began in 1950. And, the first chatbot was created in 1964 at MIT. The MIT chatbot was named Eliza and was able to hold a conversation with humans.

We now have ChatGPT, AI mode when we Google things on our phones and robots of all shapes and sizes. Just today someone was telling me that they have created robotic rabbits to fight invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades. I had to fact check this, but it came up on a Tampa Bay News website as true.

As with any technological advancement, AI has pros and cons. AI can be both helpful and harmful. I recently took a training on AI by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). The speaker warned that one of the main concerns with AI is that you cannot build AI without bias because humans are biased. A second concern she raised, which speaks to the concern of bias, is that just over 50% of the people building AI are white males.

Bias is a general concern of AI, but there are specific concerns related to the field of counseling as well when it comes to AI. The biggest AI concern in counseling is safety. If a person in crisis or someone who is suicidal receives misinformation or poor guidance from a chatbot, this could result in their harm or death. AI cannot always distinguish between fact, fiction, theory, sarcasm or satire. This makes AI dangerous for those in crisis.

A second major concern with AI and counseling is security breaches. Client confidentiality is an essential part of the therapeutic process. If AI is involved in counseling, there is significant worry that security breaches will occur, and people’s private information may be shared. It is detrimental enough when information such as addresses, telephone numbers, etc. are leaked.  So, imagine how hurtful sharing intimate details of peoples’ lives would be.

While there are many possible downsides to AI when it comes to the world of psychotherapy, there are many positive possibilities as well. Two of the easiest ways AI can support those in counseling is by providing psychoeducation and by supporting clients between sessions. I have not yet fully researched many of the various AI tools being tried in counseling so I will not drop the names of specific ones here. However, here are benefits to many AI counseling tools out there according to the NBCC.  Some of these benefits include:  24/7 availability; quick response time; affordability; the ability to encourage positive behavior change (AI does not feel bad for calling people out like humans may); and the ease of talking to AI versus a real person (some people report it less intimidating).

We will continue unpacking AI in the world of counseling in the second part of the blog on this topic. For now, if you need someone to talk to, we are here. Our skilled and experienced licensed mental health therapists are here to provide you with the support you need to feel heard and move forward in life. Please don’t delay. Contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment.