AI-Generated empathy: Chatbots and the future of mental health

AI-Generated empathy: Chatbots and the future of mental health

Author: Charts & Leisure March 12, 2025 Duration: 47:19

In this episode of Unravelling, host Mary Wilson is joined by Betsy Stade, research scientist and clinical psychologist at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI, to explore the profound ways AI is reshaping therapy, mental health support, and human connection itself.

From AI-powered chatbots offering round-the-clock emotional support to cutting-edge research on how large language models like ChatGPT are used in therapy, Betsy unpacks the opportunities, risks, and ethical dilemmas of integrating AI into mental health care. The conversation dives into AI’s surprising ability to mimic empathy—sometimes even outperforming human professionals in perceived compassion. But what does this mean for real human connection?

Betsy also shares groundbreaking research from her lab on AI-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and AI training tools for therapists.

Links:

Betsy Stade's personal website:  https://betsystade.github.io/

Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI

National Center for PTSD Mobile Apps:  https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/


There’s a thread that connects our inner lives to the culture we live in, and Unravelling pulls on it to see what emerges. This isn’t a lecture series, but a conversation guided by therapist Kurt White and journalist Mary Wilson, who bring their distinct perspectives to every discussion. They explore how mental health is woven into everything from our daily fitness routines and societal pressures to the art we consume and the relationships we keep. In each episode, you’ll hear from experts who study the mind alongside individuals sharing their personal, lived experiences, creating a dialogue that feels both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. The aim is to move beyond simple definitions, examining how anxiety, resilience, joy, and struggle shape our collective reality. Produced by Charts & Leisure, this podcast provides a space for nuance, challenging the idea that our psychological worlds exist in a vacuum. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the tension between their private thoughts and the public world, offering not easy answers but a more textured understanding. By listening, you become part of a broader exploration into how compassion, for ourselves and our society, can actually be built from a place of genuine curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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