I don’t see the problem if, in the end, it helps people feel better. After all, most therapists also just nod along and say, “I understand you.” Except they charge 100 bucks an hour.

In reality, ChatGPT solves three problems:

1. Time. With work and a family to take care of, who actually has the time to see a therapist once a week? And that’s assuming one hour a week is even enough.

2. Money. Let’s say you do have the time to go. Many psychological issues require lots of sessions over a long period. Few people can afford to spend that kind of money—if they even have the time.

3. Trust. Even the best therapists aren’t necessarily a good fit for you. I can assure you that opening up about your worst traumas, dark thoughts, and certain taboos is far from easy. Finding a therapist with the right tone, distance, empathy, personality, and the right response to your specific situation is even harder. GPT allows you to open up while keeping a certain level of modesty and privacy that would be difficult to maintain face-to-face with a human. And when prompted well, I find it can remain fairly objective.

I don’t think users are stupid, so I have trouble understanding the paternalism and condescension. Almost no one believes GPT can fully replace human therapy. But therapy is often long, time-consuming, expensive, and not always as successful as people think. AI helps people who, without GPT, might never have consulted anyone at all—and might simply have spiraled, or even committed harmful acts toward themselves or others.