Game of Thrones AI Blamed For Teen's Suicide.

[UltraBudgie]

The allegation that the bot responded as a "licensed psychotherapist" is a game-changer... no doubt that will be directly challenged...

Here is an interesting article on the rise of AI psychotherapy:

The Therapist In The Machine

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Heartfelt Services lets users choose between three different AI therapists: the bearded, bespectacled, and bemused Paul; the mythical-looking Serene; and the grinning, middle-aged Joy (she specializes in the most popular form of therapy, CBT, whose basis in aggressively logical problem-solving arguably makes it easier to automate than other modalities). The platform is web-based and requires clients to create an account or sign in with their Google accounts before they can use the open-chat function. Heartfelt Services creator Gunnar Jörgen Viggósson claims that Paul, their most sought-after therapist, who focuses on “parts work,” or different parts of your personality that may have conflicting feelings, came to him in a vision.
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The company Earkick provides an AI therapist in the form of a panda, and their mobile app offers a premium plan for $40 a year that lets you dress “Panda” in accessories like a beret or fedora (the base option is free, for now). You can also choose your preferred personality for Panda. According to cofounder Karin Andrea Stephan, they can be “more empathetic, less empathetic, more on the sporty side, more on the coach side, or more straight-to-your-face with candidness.” Earkick has an open-ended chat function that users can access whenever they want. When I type a simple “hi” to Sage Panda—the variant I chose, who purports to be insightful and mindful—it results in an enthusiastic, “Hey Jess! GREAT to see you! How are you feeling today?” The app also has an extensive mood-tracking system, which users can sync with Apple Health to monitor their sleep and exercise, and with Apple Weather to track temperature and sunlight. There are also breathing exercises with names like “Stop worries” and “F*** anxiety.”

Yes, these apps all connect to larger health-maintenance systems. I sense a buyout investment opportunity! Google or someone should soon be able to provide high-level monitoring to ensure that this type of "virtual cosplay" doesn't become dangerous. I'm sure legislation will appear, too.