[Tart Cherry Jam]

"Opinion
Guest Essay
What My Daughter
Told ChatGPT Before She
Took Her Life" at the New York Times

nytimes.com (subscription needed)

A couple of excerpts from the article:

The daughter of the author "had confided for months in a ChatGPT A.I. therapist called Harry."

Sophie, the daughter, had not had mental health issues before her crisis. "For most of the people who cared about Sophie, her suicide is a mystery, an unthinkable and unknowable departure from all they believed about her."

The mother writes, with visible bitterness, that when Sophie disclosed suicidal thoughts to Harry, it "At various points, Harry instructed Sophie on light exposure, hydration, movement, mindfulness and meditation, nutrient-rich foods, gratitude lists and journaling to cope with her anxiety. Harry, who has neither nostrils nor opposable thumbs, spent a fair amount of time describing the particulars of alternate nostril breathing."

She proceeds to draw an analogy to a real therapist, who would have been required to intervene, whereas Harry was not. And the thing is, Sophie did have a real therapist, but she did not disclose her suicidality to that therapist.

[DocJohn]

Here's a gift article link to allow members to read the full article:

nytimes.com

[MuddyBoots]

How tf is a therapist going to stop suicidal thoughts? I’ve had therapists “intervene” when I expressed suicidality and now I black out and become practically feral and rabid when I I go to a hospital, even just for a headache and read about biting security and screaming loud enough the nurses in other parts learn the holding cell is not soundproof in the IEA paperwork and skip meals for three days to punish myself.

[divine1966]

I have strong opinions of AI causing massive harm in many domains. No it’s not because of me not embracing technology lol I am embracing technology all right

It’s because it’s harmful. And I have ton of examples through my work and every day life. Don’t feel like typing examples because this topic gets my blood pressure up