this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
345 points (95.5% liked)

Technology

72137 readers
2089 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

A profound relational revolution is underway, not orchestrated by tech developers but driven by users themselves. Many of the 400 million weekly users of ChatGPT are seeking more than just assistance with emails or information on food safety; they are looking for emotional support.

“Therapy and companionship” have emerged as two of the most frequent applications for generative AI globally, according to the Harvard Business Review. This trend marks a significant, unplanned pivot in how people interact with technology.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 120 points 21 hours ago (34 children)

Almost like questioning an AI is free while a therapist costs a LOT of money.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (9 children)

Yeah, but also one of them is helpful and the other is the exact opposite. If the choices are AI therapist or no therapist, you are still better off with no therapist.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 5 points 11 hours ago

I'd be interested on a study there.

I lot of therapy is taking emotions and verbalising them so that the rational part of the brain can help in dealing with things. Even a journal can help with that, so talking to an inanimate machine doesn't seem stupid to me.

However therapists guide the conversation to challenge the patient, break reinforcing cycles, but in a way that doesn't cause trauma. A chatbot isn't going to be the same.

load more comments (8 replies)
load more comments (32 replies)