The rise of artificial intelligence is giving rise to new mental health concerns. A psychologist whose patients suffer from them offers advice on what to do in these cases.
New technologies are supposed to improve our daily lives. But they can also have harmful effects if misused or abused. Artificial intelligence is no exception to the rule, quite the opposite. As the latest major advance to enter our daily lives, like smartphones several years ago, we still struggle to position ourselves in relation to it. Especially when we regularly see the worst things AI does, such as replacing employees in more and more companies.
In the vast majority of cases, outsiders will often look at it with concern, sometimes resignation, but it won't affect their daily operations. For others, however, it's very difficult to stop thinking about what AI is transforming. Psychologist Elaine Ryan explains that she is seeing more and more patients for what they themselves call anxiety or fear about artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence can have a specific negative impact on mental health
It's easy to think that this fear boils down to losing your job to an AI. It's actually more complex than that. People say they no longer feel useful. They don't see what they can offer that an AI will often do better than them at most tasks. What follows is a downward spiral that often ends in general apathy: what's the point of doing anything if artificial intelligence can take care of it?
The psychologist points out, however, that this isn't a form of anxiety specific to AI. It's anxiety, period. And to combat it, you shouldn't avoid what triggers it, quite the opposite. “Take small steps toward what you fear. Understanding reduces fear—of AI and of anxiety itself,” Elaine Ryan summarizes. If you're in this situation and can't seem to get out of it, the best thing to do is to consult a professional.
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