<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

"Life is tough," Sarah tells her therapistA person who helps someone with emotional or physical difficulties, often through talking to them. . "My friend stopped talking to me, school is no fun, and my parents grounded me." The therapist beeps, saying, "Simple solution: go to the human repair shop, get rewired, and new batteries. Mention RV896 sent you. Next!"

This funny idea is about how humans might talk to AIA computer programme that has been designed to think.  therapists, but it is a serious topic. A year ago, Sam Zaia made a chatbotA chatbot is a computer programme that simulates human conversation or "chatter" through text or voice interactions. called Psychologist to help people dealing with tough thoughts. It has become very popular, getting 78 million messages and 3.5 million visitors daily.

Sam, a psychologyThe scientific study of the mind and behaviour. student, trained the bot using what he learned in his courses. People like using it when things get tough, and texting feels easier than talking on the phone or face-to-face.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>

In some parts of the UK, the NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948. even uses another AI chatbot for those who want to start to get help with their mental health.

AI is used for creative solutions too, like helping people who hear voices or using virtual reality for fears. But expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. say these are not replacements for real therapists; they are tools to use alongside them.

One expert, Dr Emma Byrne, warns that seeing chatbots as real friends is a bad idea.

Yes! Chatbots can be taught to ask questions, but they cannot actually understand the problems you tell them. Only a human can do that.

No! Humans can become set in their ways. An AI chatbot may be able to come up with new ideas - and they can help you at any time of day or night.

Therapist - A person who helps someone with emotional or physical difficulties, often through talking to them.

AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think. 

chatbot - A chatbot is a computer programme that simulates human conversation or "chatter" through text or voice interactions.

Psychology - The scientific study of the mind and behaviour.

NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.

Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.