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We all have probably used ChatGPT before for something we had to do or wanted to know. And everyone in our age has probably heard about the opportunities and challenges that AI poses for society. In this article, we will look at the topic from a psychological perspective. What do researchers say about the relationship between AI and Psychology? Is it harmful? What are potential benefits and challenges? Can AI aid in Clinical Psychology or even replace it? That and more will furthermore be discussed!

Firstly, there is more to AI than a black and white perspective. Between not being usable within Psychology to completely replacing it, there are many levels. One level would be for e.g. training for becoming therapists. They could record and transcribe interviews and remind trainees of what they might have forgotten (Abrams, n.d.). This way, crucial information that beginners might forget will be given to them as feedback for their next sessions.

In the research field, AI could help to gather and analyse large amounts of data. This of course would amplify research areas and exclude typical biases of humans. However, as AI is conducted by and learns through humans, it still shows its biases. This brings us to the biggest criticism of AI: Its biases towards certain groups of people. Nowadays, scientists fear that AI face recognition can be abused for purposes of phrenology (Grant, n.d.) while companies such as Amazon have been heavily criticised for developing AI systems flagging people of colour as criminals in high frequency (Levin, 2018).

Abrams (n.d.) concludes that one way to solve this issue is for Psychology and Computer Science students to work closely together in the future. As the studies are far apart in terms of most areas of interest for students, areas of generative AI and Psychology are drifting apart. Common understanding and closer collaboration between the two studies would enhance the quality of AI, make it more accessible and prevent cognitive biases.

Furthermore, AI can play a crucial role in early diagnosis and intervention of mental health issues (Abrams, n.d.). With the ability to monitor and analyse social media activity, voice patterns, and even physical health data, AI could identify early warning signs of mental health disorders that might otherwise go unnoticed. This proactive approach could lead to earlier intervention and better outcomes for patients. However, ethical considerations regarding privacy and consent are paramount. The collection and analysis of personal data must be handled with the utmost care to protect individuals' privacy and prevent misuse. Balancing the benefits of early detection with the ethical implications of data use is a challenge that must be carefully navigated.

One other danger would be, however, to not replace other jobs within the healthcare system. Waiting lists are already incredibly long for patients to receive therapy. While technology and AI can assist the process, it should not replace it. Not talking to a real person while being in need has the risk of patients to further drift apart from social interactions. Additionally, even though AI learns and can respond correctly to questions, it does not have the element of empathy that real therapists have.

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But - what do you believe? Do you think AI will assist or hinder future Clinical Psychology? And what would be necessary for AI to be developed properly?

Also - one paragraph of this article itself is written by AI! Can you guess which one?

References

Abrams, Z. (n.d.). AI is changing every aspect of psychology. Here’s what to watch for. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/07/psychology-embracing-ai

Grant, C. (n.d.). Algorithms are making decisions about health care, which may only worsen medical racism | ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union. https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/algorithms-in-health-care-may-worsen-medical-racism

Levin, S. (2018, July 26). Amazon face recognition falsely matches 28 lawmakers with mugshots, ACLU says. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/26/amazon-facial-rekognition-congress-mugshots-aclu