I’ve recently seen an advert on social media for an AI that provides emotional support on demand 24/7. It appeared to target vulnerable people, which I find highly unethical.
Here are some of the dangers of these sort of services:
No Empathy
Machines can’t empathise with you. They may read like they can, from how the structure their responses, but it is false.
Empathy is defined as:
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
This leads to a perceived connection, which eventually you will realise is a false connection. You will be left feeling hurt and deeply disappointed.
False Connection
In the early stages of this false connection, you will likely disconnect from real people. This is deeply emotionally and mentally unhealthy.
Emotional Dependence
Emotional dependence and the decreased emotional resilience that follows will not be good for you if you use one of these apps. Having an app that is available 24/7 that claims to be emotionally available to you, appears to be so, will lead to you becoming emotionally dependent on it. Being emotionally dependant on any person or thing isn’t healthy.
Bad Advice
AI has been known to give incorrect information and bad advice. At worst, this advice could be extremely harmful.
Can Reinforce negative thoughts, feelings or behaviours
AI apps will repeat back to you what you’ve just said. This is to check understanding, but in these emotional support apps is also to validate what you’ve typed. This repetition can reinforce negative thoughts, feelings or behaviours.
This is especially important as part of the role of a good therapist is to challenge negative thoughts, feelings or behaviours.
No Safeguarding
Should you go into crisis and become suicidal, the app won’t take actions to keep you safe.
A role of any therapist is to safeguard you and others from harm.
Lack of Emotional Growth
AI won’t be able to help you grow emotionally. But a therapist may make suggestions that help people to grow emotionally.
Data Privacy Breeches
Your data maybe hacked or not kept safe and secure.
Blog soon,
Antony
Sign up to my monthly newsletter:
