News Ellie The Robot Therapist

[anthony]

I knew it was just a matter of time... AI approaches are the way forward in treating people with trauma, as AI can read visual cues, your body temp, basically everything a human can't, or even avoids asking because they think it might be too much for you, an AI approach therapist will cut to the core in a delicate manner, ask the right questions based on your physiological responses, and they will know when to enact calming, breathing, relaxation, based on physiological readings and constant assessment.

A non-judgemental AI virtual therapist. I endorse.

“As the participant is talking with Ellie, we analyse the facial expressions, head gestures, eye gaze direction and voice quality to identify behavioural indicators related to depression and post trauma stress.

“These indicators are contextualised by the questions asked by Ellie, such as whether the previous question was intimate or not?”

More interestingly, is that the more interaction she has, the more she learns and keeps stored, to never forget, and subsequently only getting better at identifying human behavioural cues and such, to know exactly what question to use next.

Talk about getting through therapy faster. This is promising.

She listens without prejudice and asks all the right questions

 

[ms spock]

That is fascinating!

 

[Neverthesame]

I don't know what I think of that.

I can see how it could be beneficial.
Though I can also see it being a lonely and isolating experience.

 

[ms spock]

There are depictions of it in science fiction @Neverthesame!

 

[Neverthesame]

@Ms Spock This is true. I just hope it doesn't turn into HAL 9000.

 

[ms spock]

That is why we all have to be involved @Neverthesame! We have to all be involved every step of the way.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Yeah but you cant feel a human connection from a rebot, no matter how much it can read you and look like a human, it isnt. I'll take my human connection with my current therapist over a rebot any day!

Though, since thats the direction the world is going I may change my direction im going in career choices! ;)

ETA: I wanted to add that I dont think Id know what a human connection is without my current therapist. And we certianly havent gone the "traditional" route.

I dont know, may be ok for some but theres a lot to say about a human connection.

 

[Suzetig]

Hmmm I'm not sure, one of the benefits is apparently allowing the client to be more "truthful" in therapy however that doesn't really recognise the complex defences people develop for very good reason in therapy that do need to be worked through. I tend to think people go through therapy at a pace they can cope with - and that they need human connection and relationship to heal.

I wouldn't go anywhere near it.

 

[Naoru]

Yeah, I agree it's very fascinating. Technology continues to amaze me across all fields.

But no way, José. Not for me.

Call me paranoid, but there's no way I could trust a robot with my deepest memories, thoughts, and secrets (or its developers) ... Perhaps more importantly, there's no way I would trust it with, essentially, my life. Human connection is essential and using AI for this purpose seems to go against the very things many of us are trying to learn in therapy. While I find the pros to be invaluable, further limiting human connection in our society is a terrible idea. Besides, I don't think a robot will ever be able to match the intuition and complexities of real human interaction - at least not on the level needed in a therapeutic relationship IMO. Interesting, but no, thank you. :)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Call me paranoid, but there's no way I could trust a robot with my deepest memories, thoughts, and secrets (or its developers)

Not paranoid. It has a hard drive. That information is stored. Imagine all of your deepest secerts; everything you say to your therapist stored. Nope!

 

[Suzetig]

Reading more fully, I see that the intention is that the robot/programme would feed in to a human therapist who would follow up with a treatment plan. Regardless of whether I felt able to tell a robot my stuff, if I knew it was going back to my therapist I'd lie to the robot about all the stuff is lie to my T about. Lying has always been a defence for me, one that I'm painstakingly working through with my T, working with a robot wouldn't change my defences.

 

[shimmerz]

Part of my whole recovery thing was my feeling robotic. Inhuman.

Pretty certain this type of scenario would exaggerate that. I actually want to go to a human for guidance. Not a robot. I have developmental issues. I need to learn that for real.... how to bond properly. How my T's experiences have been (his stories of others, his family - you know, normal stuff) and I am guessing a robot won't have that to draw on.