The silicon shrink – the worrying side of AI in mental health

Apr 19, 2025
29 mins

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Episode Description

Chat bots as therapists. Apps that can track your mood and behaviour, offering earlier detection of psychiatric illness.

There's a lot happening at the nexus of mental health and AI – some of it promising, some of it perilous.

Today, science writer and author of The Silicon Shrink, Daniel Oberhaus, takes us on a journey through this emerging space. We'll look at the potential benefits, the major limitations and the ethics of adding AI into our mental health mix.

And just a heads up, this episode touches on the topic of suicide, please take care while listening.

Guest:

Daniel OberhausScience writerAuthor, The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum

Credits:

  • Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
  • Senior producer: James Bullen
  • Producer: Rose Kerr
  • Sound engineer: Isabella Tropiano

Extra info:

Resources:

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