Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Therapeutic conversational artificial intelligence and the acquisition of self-understanding

Abstract

In their thought-provoking article, Sedlakova and Trachsel (2023) defend the view that the status—both epistemic and ethical—of Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CAI) used in psychotherapy is complicated. While therapeutic CAI seems to be more than a mere tool implementing particular therapeutic techniques, it falls short of being a “digital therapist.” One of the main arguments supporting the latter claim is that even though “the interaction with CAI happens in the course of conversation… the conversation is profoundly different from a conversation with a human therapist” (8). In particular, unlike a human therapist, CAI cannot help its users gain new insight and self-understanding. We agree that currently available therapeutic CAI cannot be considered a “digital therapist,” however, we think that the issue surrounding the acquisition of new self-understanding in the interaction with therapeutic CAI is more complicated than Sedlakova and Trachsel suggest.

Cite as:
Grodniewicz, J. P., Hohol, M. (2023). Therapeutic conversational artificial intelligence and the acquisition of self-understanding. The American Journal of Bioethics. 23(5), 59–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191021
MCLL is funded by the Excellence Initiative – Jagiellonian University within the Priority Research Area Society of the Future
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