It is important to know that just as not every human therapist is right for every patient, not every AI is designed with care or quality in mind. — Pixabay
I’ll admit something personal: I’ve talked to an AI therapist. It was remarkably useful, meeting me in tough moments whenever with words that actually helped me take a step back, breathe, and process. That mix of good and bad is what makes artificial intelligence so fascinating and so important to get right.
The truth is, not all AI therapy tools are created equal. A search for “AI therapist” will bring dozens of results ranging from general purpose chatbots to companion AI platforms. It’s important to know that just as not every human therapist is right for every patient, not every AI is designed with care or quality in mind. Some tools oversell themselves, lack guardrails, or could provide advice that is unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. Many people are using general purpose AI platforms for therapeutic purposes. But some platforms like Wysa, Youper, and Ash are thoughtfully built, clear about their limits, and genuinely democratise access to a kind of mental health support millions of Americans badly need.
