Ella Beadman
In the era of social media, it is no shock that phone dependency and addictions to social media are rife, particularly among young people.
Since ChatGPT emerged in early 2023, people have formed a new sort of relationship with technology. Many have started turning to AI for guidance, emotional support and companionship, placing it in the role of a therapist.
The Popularity Of ChatGPT Therapy
Recently, social media platforms have increasingly revealed a surge in people turning to ChatGPT as a form of therapy.
Videos on TikTok sharing this idea have amassed over 3.2 million likes as well as tens of thousands of comments sharing the same sentiments. Reddit threads have hundreds of people expressing their sense of relief and gratitude having leant on ChatGPT for help.
Popularity has skyrocketed to the point that companies are rapidly launching dedicated therapy chatbots. OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, have even gone so far as to develop a new AI tool designed specifically to provide care, comfort and therapeutic support under the name ‘TherapyGPT’.
Notably, it is not just AI developers making the most of the evolving trend of chatbot therapy. UK national health services have endorsed a therapy chatbot called ‘Limbic’. The platform supports e-triage and assessments, acting as the first point of contact for patients.
People are singing the praises of ChatGPT describing it as solving, healing and loving. Some users have even gone to the extent of calling it their “best friend”. It is clearly filling a void many people are experiencing; the question is how.
ChatGPT Replacing Traditional Therapy
The affordability of ChatGPT over traditional therapy evidently draws people to it. The cost of private counselling in the UK can vary depending on where you live with session prices starting at a minimum of £35 and reaching up to hundreds of pounds per hour.
To pay hundreds for therapy is unimaginable for many. However, the alternative of free therapy through the NHS remains inaccessible as many spend months or longer on the waiting list.
Even if you are one of the lucky ones who can afford therapy or even manage to access it on the NHS, you then have the tricky task of finding time to fit it in.
Many people are dependent on their place of work allowing them to take an hour out of the working day in order to attend a session which, for many, is virtually impossible. With these sorts of obstacles in mind ChatGPT becomes massively more desirable, as it’s free to use and instantly available.
“However, the reliance on ChatGPT is contributing to the movement towards a world of disconnect and isolation, and in turn, perpetuating the need for ChatGPT itself.”
Beyond the chatbot’s accessibility in comparison to traditional forms of therapy, ChatGPT is desirable because it creates a space free from the social risks attached to opening up to friends, especially in a world where social disconnect is growing. Despite the constant connectivity of the digital landscape, many young people report feeling isolated and lonely.
One TikTok user stated that they were at a point in their life where “human interaction is just not doing it” and described it as “exhausting”.
@nataleee_x lmao i was so taken aback I couldn’t even get the words out 😂 #fyp #chatgpttherapy #chatgpt
This sentiment reflects a wider cultural experience around social performance fatigue. Navigating small talk, communicating the way we feel, and supporting those we care about is challenging. Even more so when battling feelings of inadequacy perpetuated by the pressures of perfection created through social media.
ChatGPT is clearly filling the void of a supportive companion for many. It has created a space for connection and a way to unload free of judgement and external pressures. Paradoxically, ChatGPT appears to feel more present and comforting than other people.
“The danger of it being accessed as a supplement for, or even replacement of, some of our other relationships, is that a chatbot cannot be a friend when it is not a two-way relationship.”
ChatGPT, and other AI chatbots, have gained attention in the therapy world as well. Some therapists have begun using AI assisted psychotherapy. Paolo Raile’s case study, The Usefulness of ChatGPT for psychotherapists and patients, illustrates how ChatGPT can complement psychotherapy as a useful tool for treatment techniques, approaches to therapy and a place to get a second opinion on diagnoses.
The Ethical Dilemma Of ChatGPT Therapy
On the surface, its function as a support companion cannot be entirely knocked. Creating a space for people to express themselves when they do not feel safe doing so elsewhere is an ethical benefit of the technology. However, the reliance on ChatGPT is contributing to the movement towards a world of disconnect and isolation, and in turn, perpetuating the need for ChatGPT itself.
The danger of it being accessed as a supplement for, or even replacement of, some of our other relationships, is that a chatbot cannot be a friend when it is not a two-way relationship.
“While its practical value should not be underestimated, it cannot be viewed as a replacement for friendship, intimacy or therapy.”
Ruby Hornsby, PhD researcher in ethics of human-robot relationships at the University of Leeds, urges caution when placing robots and AI technology such as ChatGPT in the role of a friend. As reported on in Ethics Untangled, Hornsby found that contrary to how ChatGPT therapy may make you feel, the chatbot “does not actually care about you or wish you well.”
In fact, ChatGPT like many other forms of AI is designed to simulate human conversation and generate answers in response to user input. In essence, it tells you what it thinks you want to hear in order to get your attention. Not only is this addictive for users, but also potentially coercive and powerful. Therefore, while it is a nice outlet to vent your feelings, what it entails. ethically, is problematic.
Psychotherapy researchers also echo ethical concerns about users accessing ChatGPT for therapy purposes. They argue that therapeutic proposals made by the chatbot are insufficient as a psychotherapy substitute due to their bias.
ChatGPT tends to favour certain methods of therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based therapy, which are not always appropriate. This is a clear weakness of the tool.
Is AI Therapy Too Artificial?
Therapy is a process that is largely relational. It assesses your shifts in tone, as well as emotional responses and triggers – all of which cannot be achieved through the sole use of a chatbot. While its practical value should not be underestimated, it cannot be viewed as a replacement for friendship, intimacy or therapy.
ChatGPT may offer a space of comfort and solace to many in a world growing more and more disconnected. However, as more turn to AI chatbots to share their deepest feelings and fears, it is important to consider not only what we are gaining from this, but more importantly, what we are losing.
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