
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


From drafting emails to planning trips, AI has become like a personal assistant for lots of people around the world. Now, the technology is playing a new role: therapist. Rather than waiting for an appointment or paying to see a professional, thousands of people are turning to AI bots like ChatGPT or DeepSeek for emotional support and advice on their mental health. But is AI up to the job - or could it risk making things worse?
BBC journalist Jordan Dunbar talks us through the different AI therapy apps that are out there, how they work and whether they come with data privacy concerns. We also hear from BBC reporter Kelly Ng, who tells us why more young people in China are using DeepSeek for therapy. And psychologist Maytal Eyal tells us about the pitfalls of swapping professional therapists for AI chatbots.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
By BBC World Service4.2
1515 ratings
From drafting emails to planning trips, AI has become like a personal assistant for lots of people around the world. Now, the technology is playing a new role: therapist. Rather than waiting for an appointment or paying to see a professional, thousands of people are turning to AI bots like ChatGPT or DeepSeek for emotional support and advice on their mental health. But is AI up to the job - or could it risk making things worse?
BBC journalist Jordan Dunbar talks us through the different AI therapy apps that are out there, how they work and whether they come with data privacy concerns. We also hear from BBC reporter Kelly Ng, who tells us why more young people in China are using DeepSeek for therapy. And psychologist Maytal Eyal tells us about the pitfalls of swapping professional therapists for AI chatbots.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

11,029 Listeners

7,588 Listeners

524 Listeners

1,801 Listeners

1,758 Listeners

1,043 Listeners

516 Listeners

382 Listeners

71 Listeners

323 Listeners

254 Listeners

269 Listeners

47 Listeners

24 Listeners

101 Listeners