- Nine in 10 psychologists are concerned that patients are relying too heavily on AI chatbots for mental health advice, according to a survey by the British Psychological Society.
- Practitioners reported a 49 per cent increase in clients using chatbots for support over the past year, with 76 per cent warning it negatively affects wellbeing.
- BPS president Dr Laura Dean warned that unregulated open-access chatbots provide unqualified and harmful advice that cannot replace human care.
- Experts expressed concern over increased social isolation and the lack of legal accountability for tech companies running AI platforms.
- The findings align with separate research showing that 43 per cent of children aged 11 to 17 have used AI for advice or emotional support.
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