APA Health Advisory Warns Against Generative AI Chatbots for Mental Health Care
Richard Landers, faculty, was a member of an expert working group of the American Psychological Association (APA Health Advisory on the Use of Generative AI Chatbots and Wellness Applications for Mental Health. The working group examined people’s reliance on general-purpose generative AI, like ChatGPT, for mental health advice and treatment, as such platforms are easy to access, low-cost, and appealing to those who cannot afford or find professional care. Based on the Health Advisory, the APA issued a press release warning against personal use of generic chatbots as a substitute for care from a qualified mental health professional. They also recommend that current mental health practitioners engage in open dialogue with their patients about their current generative AI use, which could conflict or undermine ongoing treatment. Although there is promise in the use of generative AI to eventually support mental health, there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate that these tools are effective or safe for use in mental health care.
Richard Landers, PhD, John P. Campbell Distinguished Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and the director of the TNTLAB at the University of Minnesota.
Composed by Madison Stromberg, communications assistant.
