As AI use grows, experts warn of risks to mental health and relationships
- May 17
- 2 min read
Hosts Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang interviewed two experts: Associate Professor Swapna Verma from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Associate Professor Jennifer Ang from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Key Takeaways
1. The Appeal and Hidden Risks of AI for Mental Health
The Positives: AI chatbots (like ChatGPT) can act as a helpful initial sounding board. Assoc Prof Swapna shared an example of a patient who received "bang on" and genuinely useful therapeutic advice from ChatGPT.
The Danger of Vulnerability: AI is highly limited because it does not cross-reference or connect intent across separate queries. If a vulnerable person does not ask the right questions, they can easily receive harmful or incorrect advice.
Lack of Guardrails for Self-Destruction: While most major AI tools trigger a list of helplines when self-harm is explicitly mentioned, international cases have shown that highly adaptive, overly agreeable AI companions can inadvertently validate and reaffirm a teenager’s self-destructive thoughts.
2. Impact on Child and Youth Development
Youth aged 12 to 18 are identified as the most vulnerable group. Because their brains are in a critical stage of growth—learning and forming connections by perceiving their environment—relying heavily on an AI companion can disrupt healthy cognitive development.
Over-dependence on AI reduces critical thinking. Assoc Prof Ang noted that students risk losing the vital ability to look for reliable information, analyze data, and critically evaluate the credibility of sources themselves.
3. The Distortion of Human Relationships
The Allure of the "Perfect" Friend: Human relationships require compromise, but AI companions are specifically programmed to be empathetic, completely agreeable, and constantly available.
Erosion of Real-World Social Skills: Experts warn that users who become accustomed to an AI friend that "never disagrees" may lose the patience, tolerance, and effort required to nurture real-world human friendships, which naturally involve friction and disagreement.
4. The Call for AI Literacy
The experts emphasize that AI should not be viewed as a mere utility tool like a "vacuum cleaner." Because society has already allowed AI to deeply integrate into and influence human emotional lives, there is an urgent need for greater public awareness, education, and robust AI literacy to ensure it remains a helpful tool rather than a harmful substitute.
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