AI chatbots are here to help with your mental health, despite limited evidence they work

This image provided by Earkick in March 2024 shows the company's mental health chatbot on a smartphone. A growing number of AI chatbots are being pitched as a way to address the recent mental health crisis among teens and young adults. But experts disagree about whether these chatbots are delivering a mental health service or are simply a new form of self-help. — Earkick via AP

WASHINGTON: Download the mental health chatbot Earkick and you’re greeted by a bandana-wearing panda who could easily fit into a kids’ cartoon.

Start talking or typing about anxiety and the app generates the kind of comforting, sympathetic statements therapists are trained to deliver. The panda might then suggest a guided breathing exercise, ways to reframe negative thoughts or stress-management tips.