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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
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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.
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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.

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1. j_timberlake ◴[27 Aug 25 17:36 UTC] No.45042558[source]▶
This is called the "Man bites dog" bias.

The many people who don't commit suicide because an AI confidant helped them out are never ever gonna make the news. Meanwhile the opposite cases are "TODAY'S TOP HEADLINE" and that's what people discuss.