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World's first robot therapist has 2m conversations a week

• Woebot is a chatbot that speaks to users through Facebook Messenger
• It uses AI to create human-like conversations and offer support to users
• It now engages in 2 million conversations a week, according to its creators 
• Some experts have cited privacy fears as chatbot 'patients' are not protected by US confidentiality laws

By Harry Pettit For Mailonline

Published: 04:39 EST, 4 December 2017 | Updated: 04:29 EST, 5 December 2017

For those suffering from anxiety or depression, taking the first step of speaking to someone about it can seem an impossible task.

But a robot therapist could help people with mental health issues by chatting to them through Facebook Messenger.

Researchers have developed a chatbot that has been shown to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

'Woebot' engages in 2 million conversations a week, but some experts have cited privacy fears as chatbot 'patients' are not protected by US confidentiality laws.

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Researchers have developed a chatbot that has been shown to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. The AI, known as 'Woebot', engages in 2 million conversations a week via Facebook Messenger (pictured)

HOW DOES IT WORK? 

Woebot runs through Facebook Messenger, and acts as a personal therapist to help address users' mental health challenges.

Within the chat, Woebot uses artificial intelligence to create natural, personalised and human-like conversations and offer emotional support to users.

Woebot mostly uses questions, such as 'What is your energy like today?' or 'How are you feeling?', encouraging users to openly discuss their emotions. 

It can also suggest practical strategies that people can implement to change the way they think about events in their lives.

Unlike doctors, the chatbot is available anytime, and anywhere, offering accessible mental health care to those who need it. 

In a new interview, Dr Alison Darcy, founder and chief executive of San Francisco-based Woebot Labs, said the AI helps people talk about their emotions.

'Part of the value of Woebot is you can get things off your chest without worrying what the other person thinks, without that fear of judgement,' she told the Washington Post.

'We wanted it to make an emotional connection.'

Launched in June, Woebot is programmed to mimic human conversation and primarily gives advice and offers companionship and self-help guidance to users. 

'He does a good job for people who are really distressed,' Dr Darcy said.

'He's not as good for people who don't have a lot of stuff they're upset about or have something they need to talk about ... He's not so good at chitchat.'

The chatbot is currently available to Facebook Messenger users worldwide for free, though Woebot Labs says it may charge for it in future.

Woebot acts as a personal therapist to help address users' mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety.

Within Messenger chat, Woebot uses artificial intelligence to create natural, personalised and human-like conversations and offer emotional support to users.

Woebot mostly uses questions, such as 'What is your energy like today?' or 'How are you feeling?', encouraging users to openly discuss their emotions. 

Launched in June, Woebot is programmed to mimic human conversation and primarily gives advice and offers companionship and self-help guidance to sufferers of depression and anxiety (stock image)

HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT? 

To assess how effective the chatbot is, the researchers tested Woebot on students suffering from anxiety and depression.

In a randomised study, 70 students were asked to either engage with Woebot, or a self-help eBook over a two-week period.

The results showed that Woebot was successfully able to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – the most effective treatment for mood-based disorders.

Students who used Woebot also reported a significant reduction in their symptoms of depression and anxiety, and said that the chatbot made them feel empathised with.

It can also suggest practical strategies that people can implement to change the way they think about events in their lives.

Unlike doctors, the chatbot is available anytime, and anywhere, offering accessible mental health care to those who need it.

John Torous, chair of the American Psychiatric Association's smartphone app evaluation work group, warned that mental health chatbots present privacy issues.

They are not currently covered by the US Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which stops healthcare providers and hospitals sharing sensitive patient data, he told the Washington Post. 

In July, Woebot's developers tested the robot on students suffering from anxiety and depression to assess how effective the chatbot is.

In a randomised study, 70 students were asked to either engage with Woebot, or a self-help eBook over a two-week period.

The results showed that Woebot was successfully able to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – the most effective treatment for mood-based disorders.

Students who used Woebot also reported a significant reduction in their symptoms of depression and anxiety, and said the chatbot made them feel empathised with. 

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