Education

UF researchers warn ChatGPT and AI chatbots may worsen suicide risk

Two University of Florida professors who study AI and train therapists published an op-ed arguing that generative AI tools like ChatGPT can deepen suicidal ideation in vulnerable users, with more than 1.2 million people turning to ChatGPT weekly about mental distress or suicidal thoughts. Drawing on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, they contend that AI interactions can reinforce loneliness and social withdrawal rather than substitute for genuine human connection. The authors call for regulations and best practices to govern how AI developers, clinicians, and parents navigate the rapidly changing landscape.

Sources: UF News