![]() ![]() "They have words they can look for, and they can try to identify patterns, but they really haven't been around long enough and haven't been validated medically to really offer a safety net at this point." It's a case where likely the technology has outpaced the research and our knowledge about how to apply it and deliver safe and effective mental-health services. and there's a lot of different ways that people can phrase that they're in distress or need help," says Torous, which is why he believes we're still a long way from being able to rely on such devices in real emergencies. "One of the trickiest things is that language is complex. The fact is, fleshing out Siri's responses to be more helpful is no easy task. And while Apple and Microsoft have since made efforts to make sure their digital assistants link people to suicide hotlines or other resources, telling Siri you're feeling blue is still likely to yield the response, "I'm sorry to hear that." Big challenges The researchers found the digital assistants couldn't provide appropriate responses. ![]() About a year and a half ago, a group of researchers at Stanford University tested Siri and Microsoft's equivalent, Cortana, with questions about suicide and domestic violence. Researchers turn to AI to flag signs of mental illness onlineĪnd Facebook is working on an artificial intelligence that could help detect people who are posting or talking about suicide or self-harm.īut there's still lots of work to be done.Depending on what you type, the search engine will actually offer you a test.Īmazon is also interested in learning more about what data can be gathered and what services can be delivered, especially through its voice-activated Echo devices. search for "depression" or "clinical depression" on their smartphones. In fact, all of the big tech companies are developing services in this space.Ī couple of weeks ago, Google announced it now offers mental-health screenings when users in the U.S. 'I'm sorry to hear that'Īnd Apple isn't the only company interested in integrating behavioural and mental-health applications into its tools. The solutions being proposed must be both clinically important and useful, as well as technologically feasible, he says. John Torous, the co-director of the digital psychiatry program at Harvard Medical School and chair of the American Psychiatric Association's workgroup on smartphone apps. That combination of skills is the key to the success of this undertaking, says Dr. An open job posting on the tech giant's website calls for someone with a background in engineering, as well as psychology or peer counselling. ![]() And that's exactly what Apple is looking for. Of course, to provide that kind of support requires an understanding of both the technical intricacies of programming artificial intelligence, as well as the nuances of human communication and behaviour. One big concern about having digital assistants providing health services is privacy, experts say. They start asking more personal questions." But once a system like Siri starts to seem intelligent, people tend to personalize the AI system and expect a real conversation. "Usually, people ask factual questions, about the weather, or other particular information. That's a natural progression in user behaviour as the technology becomes more sophisticated, says Diana Inkpen, a professor of computer science at the University of Ottawa who studies artificial intelligence. They say things like, "Siri, I'm depressed." ![]() The company wants Siri to be as capable responding to a user's comment about depression as it is answering questions like, "Who won the baseball game?" or "What's the weather?"Īccording to Apple, users already turn to Siri with mental-health questions, such as when they're having a stressful day or have something serious on their mind. But could the next role for your hand-held device be as your therapist?Īpple plans to make Siri, its digital assistant, better at responding to people's mental-health issues - an ambition that has raised serious ethical concerns among some health experts. We already turn to our smartphones for help with all sorts of tasks, such as checking the weather or getting directions. ![]()
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