The Oddly Reassuring Ways 'AI' Is Changing Mental Health Diagnosis & Treatment

A form of technology originally recognized in 1956, artificial intelligence (AI), has begun to drive a potentially profound shift in how mental illness is detected, diagnosed and treated. The recent boom in the use of telemedicine has accelerated AI's influence. However, while several prominent sectors of society are ready to embrace the potential of AI, caution remains prevalent in medicine, including psychiatry, evidenced by recent headlines in the news media like this one from the New York Times: "Warnings of a Dark Side to AI in Health Care." Yet, regardless of apparent concerns, AI applications in medicine are steadily increasing. That includes the field of mental health, as well.