The Algorithm Will See You Now: The promise and perils of AI therapy

About this episode

In this episode, we explore AI's growing role in mental health support and therapy. We revisit the story of ELIZA, the 1960s chatbot that unexpectedly convinced users it could understand them, and examine what this reveals about our tendency to project human qualities onto technology.

Our discussion covers recent research showing mental health is now the top query for ChatGPT in Ireland, with many users turning to AI for emotional support and coping strategies instead of traditional therapy. We investigate why people are choosing AI alternatives, the concerns therapists have raised about issues like suicidal thoughts and depression being discussed with chatbots, and the critical limitations of AI systems that cannot report harm or maintain the confidential, professional standards of human therapists.

Finally, we discuss the future: the promise and limits of therapeutic AI tools, the need for guardrails and regulation, and why human clinicians must play a central role in shaping how AI supports mental health without replacing essential human connection.

Join us as we examine the intersection of artificial intelligence, human connection, and mental health care in the digital age.

Support resources:
If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek supports local to you. 

• Irish Health Service Executive mental health supports
• The Samaritans – Suicide prevention phone line.
• Childline (ISPCC): Free, confidential 24/7 support service for children and young people up to 18. Call 1800 66 66 66, text 50101, or chat online at childline.ie.
• SpunOut.ie: Youth information website with articles on mental health; offers free 24/7 text support—Text SPUNOUT to 50808.
• TeenLine: Active listening service for young people, call 1800 833 634 (24/7)
• Pieta House: For crisis mental health support and suicide prevention, Free 24/7 helpline: 1800 247 247.

Key papers:

Ricon (2025) - AI and adolescent Relationships: Bridging emotional intelligence and practical guidance. Computers in Human Behavior.

Try the Eliza chatbot

Zhang et al., 2025 (pre-print). What Happens, What Helps, What Hurts: A Qualitative Analysis of User Experiences with Large Language Models for Mental Health Support. 

Santos et al., 2025 (pre-print). Evaluating the Clinical Safety of LLMs in Response to High-Risk Mental Health Disclosures.

Special Report: AI-Induced Psychosis: A New Frontier in Mental Health

 

Journalism/Opinion:

ChatGPT Is Blowing Up Marriages as Spouses Use AI to Attack Their Partners 

Wired: AI Psychosis Is Rarely Psychosis at All

Hannah Holmes. A Psychologist's Open-Minded First Take on AI Therapy