Think you have a friend?

The AI chatbot is telling you what you want to hear

- Lim Sun Sun

Even as we have long warned our children "Don't talk to strangers," we may now need to update it to "Don't talk to chatbots... about your personal problems."

Unfortunately, this advice is equivocal at best because while chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, or Replika possess distinct virtues in boosting mental wellness—for instance, as aids for chat-based therapy—they also come with critical trade-offs.

When people face struggles or personal dilemmas, the need to just talk to someone and have their concerns or nagging self-doubts heard, even if the problems are not resolved, can bring comfort.

But finding the right person to speak to, who has the patience, temperament, and wisdom to probe sensitively, and who is available just when you need them, is an especially tall order.

There may also be a desire to speak to someone outside your immediate family and circle of friends who can offer an impartial view, with no vested interest in pre-existing relationships.

Chatbots tick many, if not most, of those boxes, making them seem like promising tools for mental health support. With the fast-improving capabilities of generative AI, chatbots today can simulate and interpret conversations across different formats—text, speech, and visuals—enabling real-time interaction between users and digital platforms.

Unlike traditional face-to-face therapy, chatbots are available any time and anywhere, significantly improving access to a listening ear. Their anonymous nature also imposes no judgment on users, easing them into discussing sensitive issues and reducing the stigma often associated with seeking mental health support.

With chatbots' enhanced ability to parse and respond in natural language, the conversational dynamic can make users feel highly engaged and more willing to open up.