The AI will see you now
“I feel like my friends are drifting away…”
“I’m really sorry you’re feeling that way. Do you have a sense of why it’s happening, or is it more of a feeling that’s just been building up?”
“More of a feeling…”
“That makes sense. Sometimes it’s not about a specific event, but just a shift that happens over time. Are you noticing it in particular situations or with specific friends, or does it feel more general?”*
And so the exchange unfolds, each fresh entry eliciting concern and kindness that draws the user deeper into a secure cocoon.
Tens of thousands of similar conversations are playing out on screens glowing in darkened rooms, dimmed in bright MRT carriages, and in the myriad other public and private spaces we inhabit. They’re part of a quiet shift across the island. Young people, so often technology’s earliest adopters, are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools not just for career advice, travel itineraries or productivity hacks, but for comfort too. High costs and the lingering stigma around therapy continue to make it hard for youth to seek help, and these bots are standing in as their emotional first responders. What are some of the pros and cons of embracing generative AI for mental health advice? And how might we better navigate these still uncharted waters?
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