Human therapists staged a strike in protest against AI counselors taking their place.

      When those who manage your anxiety express concerns about AI, it may be worth paying attention.

      Recently, over 2,400 mental health providers from Kaiser Permanente in Northern California went on a 24-hour strike. A key issue they raised aligns with worries prevalent in many sectors undergoing AI disruption: the apprehension that artificial intelligence could take over their jobs.

      Kaiser has reassured its staff that AI will not displace therapists. The company informed NPR that it does not utilize AI for medical or care-related decisions. Despite this, employees argue that the shifts they are currently witnessing suggest a different reality.

      Licensed clinical social workers are being taken off triage duties and replaced by unlicensed personnel using scripts or applications for online patient assessments. Therapists perceive this as a precursor to AI-led healthcare.

      Is AI actually replacing therapists?

      According to psychologist Vaile Wright, who is the senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association, the answer is no—there is no current AI solution capable of substituting human-led therapy or mental health services.

      In areas where AI is being implemented, it primarily focuses on administrative functions, such as billing and updating health records—tasks that consume therapists' time. This could be seen as a positive development, allowing healthcare professionals to prioritize patient care.

      Should patients be concerned about the AI tools their providers might employ?

      Dr. John Torous, a psychiatrist and director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, points out that many AI tools entering the mental health sector show promise, although they are not yet fully validated.

      Some tech firms are already developing AI chatbots for patient triage and assessments. Torous emphasizes that, with a lack of regulatory oversight, mental health professionals must stay proactive by learning about these tools and advocating against those that are unsafe or ineffective.

      The striking nurses share these apprehensions. Katy Roemer, a nurse at Kaiser, plainly expressed her concerns in an AP interview: “Will AI benefit patients? Will AI benefit those employed by Kaiser Permanente? Or will it solely serve the corporation’s financial interests?”

      Perplexity

      Microsoft has recently introduced Copilot Health, and Perplexity has made its own entry into the health market with Perplexity Health. It’s evident that AI is becoming an integral part of various sectors, but the crucial question remains whether healthcare systems will implement it to truly aid patients or simply to reduce expenses.