←back to thread

A teen was suicidal. ChatGPT was the friend he confided in

(www.nytimes.com)
443 points jaredwiener | 1 comments | 26 Aug 25 14:15 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
davidcbc ◴[26 Aug 25 21:10 UTC] No.45032380[source]▶
This is a clear example of why the people claiming that using a chatbot for therapy is better than no therapy are... I'll be extremely generous and say misguided. This kid wanted his parents to know he was thinking about this and the chatbot talked him out of it.
replies(5): >>45032418 #>>45032727 #>>45034881 #>>45038138 #>>45038499 #
MBCook ◴[26 Aug 25 21:14 UTC] No.45032418[source]▶
How many of these cases exist in the other direction? Where AI chatbots have actively harmed people’s mental health, including possible to the point of self destructive behaviors or self harm?

A single positive outcome is not enough to judge the technology beneficial, let alone safe.

replies(3): >>45032526 #>>45032847 #>>45042558 #
throwawaybob420 ◴[26 Aug 25 21:26 UTC] No.45032526[source]▶
idk dude if your technology encourages a teenager to kill itself and prevents him from alerting his parents via a cry for help, I don’t care how “beneficial” it is.
replies(3): >>45032555 #>>45033070 #>>45038178 #
threatofrain ◴[26 Aug 25 22:19 UTC] No.45033070[source]▶
Although I don't believe current technology is ready for talk therapy, I'd say that anti-depressants can also cause suicidal thoughts and feelings. Judging the efficacy of medical technology can't be done on this kind of moral absolutism.
replies(5): >>45033196 #>>45033250 #>>45034150 #>>45035623 #>>45037490 #
1. kelnos ◴[27 Aug 25 05:00 UTC] No.45035623{3}[source]▶
That's a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison. Anti-depressants are medical technology, ChatGPT is not. Anti-depressants are administered after a medical diagnosis, and use and effects are monitored by a doctor. This doesn't always work perfectly, of course, but there are accepted, regulated ways to use these things. ChatGPT is... none of that.