In this episode of Unravelling, host Mary Wilson is joined by Betsy Stade, research scientist and clinical psychologist at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI, to explore the profound ways AI is reshaping therapy, mental health support, and human connection itself.

From AI-powered chatbots offering round-the-clock emotional support to cutting-edge research on how large language models like ChatGPT are used in therapy, Betsy unpacks the opportunities, risks, and ethical dilemmas of integrating AI into mental health care. The conversation dives into AI’s surprising ability to mimic empathy—sometimes even outperforming human professionals in perceived compassion. But what does this mean for real human connection?

Betsy also shares groundbreaking research from her lab on AI-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and AI training tools for therapists.

Links:

Betsy Stade's personal website:  https://betsystade.github.io/

Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI

National Center for PTSD Mobile Apps:  https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/