The era of (AI) therapist is here! Chatbots may help boost mental health, but can't replace real human empathy

The U.S. National Eating Disorders Association's president unexpectedly turned up to a staff meeting to inform the organization would be switching its helpline for a chatbot. Mental health therapist Nicole Doyle was shocked by the news. A few days after the helpline was shut down, Tessa the bot would also be removed for giving bad advise to those suffering from mental illness. One of five employees let go in March, around a year after the chatbot was introduced, said Doyle, 33, "People found it was giving out weight loss advice to people who told it they were struggling with an eating disorder. While Tessa may simulate empathy, Doyle argued that this is not the same as genuine human empathy.