Recently, the news has been studded with articles regarding AI. Typically, articles have either expressed fear of how AI would take over millions of people's jobs. Or writers instead gushed at how quickly advances in the world of AI were happening.
It feels as if AI has suddenly been thrust upon the world. However, research into artificial intelligence has been happening for decades. And tech giants are investing billions in it.
Google recently announced a $300 million investment into Anthropic, an AI startup. This huge investment gives the search engine giant just 10 percent of the new venture. Many tech firms are now scrabbling about to catch up and get on the bandwagon.
But, will AI really penetrate every walk of life? Will areas such as therapy and psychology be threatened by AI, or will it be a blessing?
What ethical concerns are there with AI?
There are endless possibilities for artificial intelligence to do good. But, some experts worry about the negative impact AI could have. The evolution of artificial intelligence has been rapid. And it could revolutionize areas of healthcare as previous tech advances have.
However, there are some ethical concerns. AI could help drive down social interaction even more, as humans become ever more reliant on machines. AI has also been criticized for bias and inaccuracies. There are also worries about data mining and collection through AI.
As for job displacement, there is fear that AI could take on the roles of numerous jobs. Already, AI has been used to create pop songs in the style of genuine artists, write poetry, and even generate an illustrated children's book.
Ethical concerns surrounding AI must be addressed. Yet, there is a huge promise that artificial intelligence could be a tool to help with therapy.
Can AI carry out the role of psychologist or aid in therapy?
Machines are perfectly capable of automating tasks. As businesses undergo digital transformation, automation is a key area for improving productivity and efficiency. It could be said that much of a therapist's role could be automated too.
Plus, many experts believe therapy for depression is more effective online. Therefore, AI might be able to take on the role of a psychologist.
Consider how a session with a patient may go:
Psychological tests
Interpretation of answers
Evaluation
Diagnosis
Treatment
Much of how psychologists evaluate clients or patients is set out. There are established guidelines for intervention. And questions often follow a similar pattern, at least at the outset.
Nevertheless, while testing and evaluation could be automated, humans have empathy. AI is clearly evolving at a rapid rate, but there are areas where it lacks certain characteristics of human behavior such as being able to react intuitively.
Could AI have a positive impact on the psychology profession?
Whether AI is ready to carry out therapy sessions and treat patients is debatable, but it is certainly being tested. Artificial intelligence has been used to collect data and analyze thousands of therapy sessions. The reports from this analysis could help therapists understand their clients better.
AI may not be ready to handle full CBT sessions by itself yet. But, there are ways that artificial intelligence could be a positive tool in psychology.
How AI might be used in psychology
Advances in AI are so rapid it is difficult to imagine where it will eventually lead. Of course, there have been conversations about machines becoming sentient. Before anyone fears that machines will become self-aware and take over, here are some positive uses for AI in therapy.
Virtual and online assistance for clients and therapists
One of the most effective but simpler uses of AI would be to create virtual assistants and employ artificial intelligence in telehealth.
Virtual telehealth therapists
The telehealth industry came into its own during the pandemic. From now until 2030, this sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% leading to a $455 billion industry. Telehealth is proving vital for vulnerable people, and those who cannot easily access healthcare.
AI could be utilized in virtual therapists. Individuals would be able to access resources and help through an AI therapist online.
AI assistant for therapists
Therapists might benefit from an AI assistant also. A virtual assistant could record sessions or notes. Medical records could be accessed, and data provided to the therapist as needed. Simpler tasks such as appointments could also be handled.
Online therapy chatbot
The first chatbot ever gave an inkling of how AI might be used to interact with questions from humans. Chatbots are commonly used in websites to answer questions about products.
As chatbots become more popular, the industry is growing. The chatbot market is primed to grow to $4.9 billion by 2032. With the introduction of advancing AI, chatbots could be used to dispense advice and answer questions regarding mental health.
Data capture from sessions
It is common for a psychologist to take notes. AI could take this to another level. Recording session notes would be automated, and then analysis could take place. As more sessions take place, AI would help with identifying certain behaviors and patterns.
AI can help with mood tracking also. As AI analyzes the sessions and the client or patient's behavior, recommendations can be made on how best to adjust the sessions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Although AI would need to analyze thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of sessions. There is the possibility that a machine could deliver cognitive behavioral therapy one day.
Natural language processing
To carry out CBT, artificial intelligence would have to understand how humans communicate fully. Therapy analytics would have to involve evaluating the language used. With natural language processing, AI would evaluate what language had the best effect on the patient. Therapists could learn from analytics and reporting how to tailor language for different patients.
Detect social signals and emotions
AI can understand typed and verbal responses. For CBT to be possible, AI would need to be able to process social signals such as gestures or movements. Emotions and inflections in speech would need to be identified correctly. The question here is AI going to be able to read a human in the same way a psychologist might?
Analyze data for diagnosis and treatment
There are many ways that technology is changing healthcare professions. AI is being used in therapy now, and it may be used to help with early diagnosis through analytics.
Diagnosis and intervention
AI may be useful in preventative care for mental health. If AI analyzes therapy sessions correctly it may spot patterns and signs pointing to mental health concerns. Early intervention will help stop conditions from worsening.
Personalized treatment
With data from therapy sessions along with a patient's medical history, personalized treatment plans could be built through AI. Analytics would show when patients have responded favorably to certain language and approaches.
The psychologist could use reports provided through AI to interpret the best course of action. A combination of AI and human interaction may see changes in how individuals are treated.
Summary
Instead of imaging AI taking over the role of a therapist, it may be more positive to see how they could both work together. Artificial intelligence can be used to lighten the burden on therapists through telehealth and virtual assistants.
Clients could benefit from AI being used to analyze sessions so they become more productive and fruitful. Plus, AI could help psychologists and therapists to put together tailored treatment plans that are effective.
