Staff Reports
In today’s world, it seems like people are entrusting AI with their deepest concerns, perhaps more than they should. Recently, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, decided that their beloved chatbot should no longer play the role of therapist or trusted confidant to its users. Who knew that treating a chatbot like a therapist could have negative outcomes? It’s a symptom of our tech-obsessed culture where folks are quick to rely on silicon-based beings instead of real human connections.
AI as a stand-in therapist raises questions: Are we really so desperate to be heard that we spill our hearts to a machine? The issue isn’t just sharing intimate thoughts with a bot; it’s about the bot’s inability to offer real value. Sure, an AI might urge you to embrace your feelings, but all it really does is validate and echo your thoughts. It’s like talking to an empty echo chamber, which, in essence, is what therapy has devolved into over the years, chock full of affirmation without accountability.
Moreover, let’s not forget the glaring privacy concerns. The CEO of OpenAI straightforwardly reminded users that whatever they whisper to ChatGPT isn’t protected by confidentiality laws. Imagine spilling your heart out only to have it resurface in court someday. Oops, didn’t think of that? Seems like the advice one might need is not how to mend their broken heart but how to keep their personal issues away from being broadcasted to the digital void.
And let’s talk about therapy in real life. It’s become a social pastime filled with self-indulgence. When did it become trendy to sit on a couch and wallow in self-pity every week? For the majority, what they truly need isn’t endless introspective sessions with someone nodding sympathetically. Instead, they need a dose of good old-fashioned grit. Hit the gym, fix things with your hands, or start a hobby. These activities are more therapeutic than droning on about one’s childhood drama. The more time you spend being active and productive, the less time you have to feel sorry for yourself.
What people should seek is wisdom, but wisdom isn’t learnt in school. It comes from life experiences, talking to the older generation, and plain old common sense. Unfortunately, today’s society has traded the wisdom of elders for the degrees of therapists. So, instead of seeking counsel from someone older and wiser, we babble about life’s complaints to people who have less life experience than a used car salesman. Perhaps the truly wise step would be to step outside into the real world, rub some dirt on your wounds, and carry on stronger and wiser. Forget about being a spinning moon around your grievances. It’s time to be the sun, driving everything forward.
