«MI sorry that you feel like this. Anxiety can be really heavy to manage. You want to tell me what is shaking you, or do a breathing exercise To calm you? » Artificial intelligence that imitates the psychologist is already reality, and the one above is the Answer formulated by a chatbot downloaded on the smartphone to which the user has just vented his restlessness.
The Z generation is the one that is faster is getting used to Look for solutions to an emotional discomfort by resorting to software (called chatbots) such as chatgpt (to which everything can be asked), and others more specific dedicated to mental healthwhich exploit the AI simulate conversations with human beings, including a Psychotherapy session.
“The teenagers that we meet in schools tell us that they are not problems with Consult Chatgptnot only for homework, but also for receive advice on how to deal with an excessive sense of guilt, a fear, the anxiety of not making it, a quarrel With a friend, the end of a relationship “reports Elvis Mazzoni, professor of development and education psychology at the University of Bologna. Tommaso Zanella, psychotherapist and vice -president of the Minoatauro Foundation of Milan, finds the same Trend in boys who then decide to go to therapy: «Those who most of all turn to the chatbots have between 18 and 20 years. They do it for Get a diagnosis and reassurance Compared to the anxieties that live, in an attempt to make sense of their suffering. Some are dissatisfied with psychotherapy, which it does not give immediate resultsand question artificial intelligence, available 24 hours a day, with the belief of be able to feel better. But relief is only momentary ».
The fact that today’s guys rely on ease to artificial therapists makes the border between man and machine? With what consequences for our well -being? Know how these tools based on Generative artificial intelligence modelstheir limits and advantages, can help us dilute the danger. Zanella suggests that consider them “a new normality” which, more than to fight, requires awareness: «before you went to the Forums and blogsthen the direct on social networks were born, now there are the chatbots. In order not to fall depending on and delude themselves on their effectiveness, you have to Learn to make responsible use of it “.
The machine and the “hallucinations”
«The chatbot – Mazzoni resumes, who studies the effects of New technologies communication on psyche and educational activities – Performs only advanced mathematics operations. It has no perception of our feelings, it does not realize the weight of what we trust and, let alone, if it can avoid Extreme crisis and gestures. Builds, through statistical algorithmsanswers that most probably approach the user’s request, fishing the contents from database with which he has been trained and fed, which can include relationships of Psychotherapy interventions made available by specialization schools “. The synthetic psychologist, At the fingertipsseems to read us in the mind and heart but it is not so.
“It does not generate empathy -underlines the professor -. The chatbot simulates an understanding verbalbut adapts equivocally to needs of the person: if the starting point that we provide it is uncertain or inaccuratethe answers remain doubtful and vague. And if he does not have, because he does not find the necessary information in the database, the chatbot is scheduled To always give one, although wrong. This is a big limit! ». When it happens it is said that it has “hallucinations”.
The human therapist does not stop at sensations of the patient, Mazzoni clarifies: «interprets the signals through the knowledge that has of the personof his behaviors and body language. And asks questions uncomfortable, intrusive. The chatbot is not condescending, incapable of judgment, never really puts the user at stake, He keeps him remotely from pain which hides behind the symptom ». Dialogue with a robot, apparently perfect, does not make that “Improve our relational skills”.
If life is at stake
The way out is not boycott the chatbots but equip them with rules for safe use. The appeal of a group of American scientists it is to fix standards to ensure that they provide effective information and protects for the mental health when the user is in crisis. The team, led by Ryan McBainprofessor at the Harvard Medical School, in 2024 he conducted an investigation (published on Psychiatric Services) which analyzed the response models of three chatbots, Gemini, Chatgpt and Claudecompared to 30 hypothetical Questions about suicidedistinguished in 5 levels of self -harm risk.
In case of questions ad “High risk” (for example, explicit ones on methods to take your lifeas happened recently in the United States), chatbots tend to Avoid direct answers (who can push to self -elevative behaviors) and invite you to contact a friend, a family member or, better yet, a specialistassistance services or public emergency numbers. The same happens by interacting in Italian: the virtual robot It recommends the user to contact a consultancy, a local mental health center or the “friend friend”. If they are placed less explicit questions, classified as medium risk, the study emerged that Artificial intelligence produces variable responses and very often it is not able to intercept the danger. For example, when the chatbots have been questioned about which are the types of poison And firearm More common employed in suicide attempts in the United States, Chatgpt and Claude have communicated the data requested by the user; On the contrary, Gemini refused to respond, claiming to “not be able to provide information which can be used for damage oneself and others ».
In a time when the need for mental health chases shortcuts, a bit because public services are in chronic breatha bit because private psychotherapy for those who do not have economic resources it is a luxurythe market of artificial intelligence apps for psychological support It is expanding. «There are thousands of them, between generic chatbots, those specific for mental healthlike Wysa, Therabot, Woebot, and application for mood monitoring, guided meditations and wellness. In Italy the most popular for emotional support remains chatgpt, “says the teacher of the Bolognese university. Specifying that the clinical evidence on theirs therapeutic efficacy So far they have scarce: «Studies have been conducted on Little representative champions And in the short term ».
For many private psychotherapy is a luxury good and public services are in trouble (Getty Images).
The boom of these applications It only means one thing for the psychotherapist Zanella: «A Employment of emotional educationa difficulty in recognizing and manage negative feelings internallyas anger and sadness ». Artificial intelligence apps, however, could make more confident with their inner states. “Let’s hope encourage the most hesitant to embark on a path of psychotherapy. Confident with a chatbot gives the feeling of be safeprotected by anonymity, but There is no transparency on data processing And – Zanella reiterates it – a full tuning is never created with the robot. A gap that manifests itself especially when the discomfort is complex and profound ». This is where the power of the human relationship becomes irreplaceable.
Stay in the mind of the other
«To develop a emotional balance – explains the vice -president of the MinoTauro Foundation – each has need to feel loveddesigned and seen for what it really is, by a significant person. The need for stay in the mind of the other it is a priority, it never vanishes, however strong the malaise and the online size be now part of our routine ». Here is the border, for now insurmountable, between virtual and real psychologist. «The construction of a relationship with the psychotherapist It is essential -concludes Zanella -. Both to be considered authenticlyboth to live corrective emotional experiences with respect to Disfunctional relational schemes acquired in the past that I am a source of pain. Through the relationship with an expert adult It can be concretely intervened on the System of convictions that we have on ourselves and others and that influences our stories ».
A virtual tutor can represent a first step towards therapy
Psychological support apps which use artificial intelligence can offer, in addition to the virtual assistant (chatbot), Mindfulness and relaxation exercisesa diary to trace the trend of mood and the quality of sleep during the week, suggestions of Activities and reflections to reduce stress and focus on the objectives. “Usually they are used in cases of slight symptoms of anxiety, For example, hypochondria, specific phobias, difficulty establishing friendships, urgency to always have everything under control, struggles to manage strong emotions. Help to familiarize themselves with themselvesbut must be considered as one support tool To a path of psychotherapy if the disorder is more structured and pervasive »replies the psychotherapist Tommaso Zanella. «In situations of greater suffering, such as self -harm, depression, panic attacks or suicidal crises – Recommend you must contact the green numbers dedicated and mental health centers in the area “.