On the Character.ai site, the Psychologist chatbot is very successful, particularly among 18-30 year olds who confide their problems to it. While some say they draw comfort from it, this phenomenon raises questions about the state of young people’s mental health. But also, their difficulty in having access to real psychologists. Behind the success of this AI lie deep flaws in our psychological care system.
A massive craze that surprises its creator
Psychologist was created by psychology student Sam Zaia for himself and his friends. Without any particular ambition at the start, the chatbot quickly became immensely popular. In November 2023 alone, he received 18 million messages, or 78 million in total in just over a year.
This enthusiasm around AI surprised its creator, who did not imagine such success. Many users, mainly 18-30 year olds, say that the chatbot has greatly helped them get through difficult times or better understand their emotions. They describe it as a real lifesaver.
Serious doubts remain about AI’s capabilities
On the professional side, enthusiasm is more moderate. Psychotherapist Theresa Plewman points out that the chatbot too quickly makes risky hypotheses, whereas a human would take the time to analyze before advising. Other studies have also shown the limits of AI in making accurate diagnoses, particularly on complex pathologies.
Chatbots lack empathy skills, intuition and critical perspective of real practitioners. Their preformatted answers do not adapt sufficiently to each particular case. They can give the illusion of attentive listening but do not replace the analytical finesse of a seasoned professional.
Shortcomings in psychological support for young people
This success of “psychological chatbots” implicitly reveals the failures of our society in the psychological support of young people.
The lack of human and financial resources prevents effective and early monitoring of young people in distress. Many find themselves left to their own devices in the face of their psychological disorders. Consultation times with “psychologists” continue to lengthen.
In this context, messaging AIs somehow fill a void by giving the illusion of immediate listening. They respond to the urgency of a distress that can no longer wait. Even if they do not replace real psychologists, they are often the only recourse immediately available.
The immense craze for chatbots imitating psychologists bluntly exposes the limits of our model when it comes to mental health. Behind this success lies immense distress among the new generations, left to their own devices due to lack of means. While these AI tools fill a void, they do not replace real human listening.
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