I used AI for therapy – here’s why real therapists say it’s an awful idea

ChatGPT

ChatGPT, the generative AI chatbot launched by OpenAI in 2022, is well-known for its conversational fluency. The chatbot has an inbuilt “Therapist GPT” which is “designed to provide comfort, advice, and therapeutic support to those seeking mental wellness guidance”. It also has memory functionality, so it picks up on details and preferences shared by you and responds accordingly.

Gemini AI

Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot initially launched as ‘Bard’ in March 2023, but it later rebranded. According to Tech Target, “Google’s Gemini excels in real-time web access, complex reasoning and research-based tasks, making it a strong competitor in the AI space.”

Woebot

Woebot is an AI chatbot specifically designed for mental health support. The tool, which launched on Facebook Messenger in 2017, combines cognitive behavioural therapy with psychotherapy. However, it is stopping its services on June 30th.