
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
4.7
1212 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
1,801 Listeners
7,629 Listeners
420 Listeners
525 Listeners
967 Listeners
286 Listeners
354 Listeners
44 Listeners
59 Listeners
758 Listeners
474 Listeners
246 Listeners
247 Listeners
24 Listeners
121 Listeners