Can chatbots replace human therapists? Some startups claim they can with the therapy tools they have developed. However, this is not yet a fully established technique.
A study reveals that 80% of people who use OpenAI’s ChatGPT for mental health advice believe it’s a good alternative to regular therapy sessions. A separate report found that chatbots may be effective in reducing certain symptoms related to depression and anxiety.
On the other hand, the relationship between the therapist and the client—the human bond—has been well understood as one of the best predictors of success in mental health treatment.
Three entrepreneurs, Dustin Klebe, Lukas Wolf, and Chris Aeberli, are in the pro-chatbot therapy camp. Their startup, Sonia, offers an “AI Therapist” where users can talk or message about various topics through an iOS app.
Klebe, Sonia’s CEO, said in an interview: “Creating an AI therapist is, to some extent, similar to developing a new drug rather than repackaging existing technology.”
The trio met in 2018 while studying computer science at ETH Zurich and moved to the U.S. together to pursue graduate studies at MIT. Shortly after graduating, they reunited to form a startup that encapsulates their shared passion for scalable technology.
That startup was Sonia.
Sonia uses a range of generative AI models to analyze and respond to what users say during their “therapy sessions” in the app. The app, which implements cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, charges users $20 per month or $200 per year.
Klebe claims that Sonia, which has not received FDA approval, can cope with a variety of issues, from depression, stress, and anxiety to relationship problems and insufficient sleep. For more serious scenarios, such as people contemplating violence or suicide, Sonia has “additional algorithms and models” that will detect “emergencies” and direct users to national hotlines, Klebe says.
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