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People Are Using AI for Therapy, Even Though ChatGPT Wasn’t Built for It

Some users see it as a way to supplement traditional mental health services, despite troubling privacy implications.

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Illustration: Martin Groch for Bloomberg Businessweek
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Milo Van Slyck missed an appointment with his therapist in early April, so he decided to try something new: telling ChatGPT about his problems.

As Van Slyck, a paralegal in Charleston, South Carolina, typed, he found that he felt comfortable discussing a range of deeply personal issues. He told OpenAI’s chatbot about his fears and frustrations as a transgender man at a time when transgender rights are under attack in much of the country. He mentioned conflict with his parents, who aren’t supportive of his gender identity, and his preparations for an upcoming visit.