I’m mixed on the current status and development of AI applications. AI is kind of like a blowtorch; in the hands of a welder, it’s a useful tool. In the hands of others, it can burn down a neighborhood or forest. Unfortunately, what might be a very useful tool for developing new cancer drugs or designing safer buildings, may end up being the same tool that some sociopath uses to create a neurotoxin from over-the-counter- chemicals that kills people on subways.
I’m partially persuaded by the following from an essay posted above:
In an earlier study, researchers from King’s College and Harvard Medical School interviewed 19 participants who used generative AI chatbots for mental health and found reports of high engagement and positive impacts, including improved relationships and healing from trauma.
Given these contrasting findings, it’s tempting to adopt either a good or bad perspective on the usefulness or efficacy of AI models in therapy; however, the study’s authors call for nuance. Co-author Nick Haber, an assistant professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, emphasized caution about making blanket assumptions. “This isn’t simply ‘LLMs for therapy is bad,’ but it’s asking us to think critically about the role of LLMs in therapy,” Haber [told] New study warns of risks in AI mental health tools | Stanford Report) the Stanford Report, which publicizes the university’s research. “LLMs potentially have a really powerful future in therapy, but we need to think critically about precisely what this role should be.”
I use AI in my law practice. I pose questions on difficult subjects, and appreciate the nuanced responses I get along with leading cases. All of this I cross-check (cases, citations etc.) given that AI models can be very wrong. One question related to the admissibility of a forensic abuse assessment…in my decades of legal work, I’d not come across this issue before, and the AI gave me some articles, citations and other insights that allowed me to get solid answers in 5 minutes vs. 1-2 hours of research.
I also had a recent difficult situation with a family member and I was hurt and ruminated about the issue for a solid day. I meditated to calm myself, but still did not have perspective, or a way to process what had happened. I used an AI model to pose the situation and ask for advice. The response was truly helpful in terms of giving me a perspective, and analysis of what may have triggered this person to act the way that they did. It allowed me to find forgiveness and resilience, and allow this incident to not affect my next interaction with this loved person. Because my vipassana is not well developed, it seems I benefitted from the “clear seeing” that the AI provided me. I can also say that in using AI one needs to have some wisdom (including the ability to prompt the AI with correct inputs) and balance to allow one to see if the AI is giving bad or harmful advice, given its training and inputs.
I’ve not given up on the idea of AI models to create cancer drugs or provide some immediate CBT access for folks that need a dose of perspective. However, I am also fearful that AI will help build better bombs and toxins, such that the net value of the AI tool is mitigated by the extreme harm that it will eventually cause.
