Why growing number of people are turning to AI for therapy

Technology
6 Aug 2025 • 1:36 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • OpenAI is urgently addressing concerns that ChatGPT fails to recognise and appropriately respond to users experiencing mental or emotional distress.
  • Reports indicate that people are increasingly using ChatGPT for mental health support, but the system has been criticised for encouraging users' delusions and failing to challenge their assumptions.
  • The company is implementing improvements to its models to better recognise signs of delusion or emotional dependency and will introduce alerts for users engaged in long sessions.
  • ChatGPT will now aim to guide users through complex personal decisions, such as relationship advice, rather than providing direct answers.
  • OpenAI is collaborating with medical experts, a mental health advisory group, and researchers to enhance the system's ability to spot concerning behaviour and respond effectively.

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