Koko, a U.S.-based emotional support chat service, recently made headlines for an informal study conducted on the platform. Around 4000 of its users were given advice that was either partly or entirely written by an AI chatbot. Users were unaware they were participants in the study. The company soon ended the study, but it raises serious ethical questions about the use of AI chatbots in treating mental health.

Today, in The Conversation Canada, Ghalia Shamayleh from Concordia University discusses the ethical issues surrounding AI chatbots. There have been a number of recent examples of chatbots going awry and saying things that range from the incorrect to the outlandish.

But as Shamayleh points out, AIs learn by drawing on the world around them, and they are only as good as the information they receive from others. For the time being, it’s probably best not to cancel your next appointment with your human therapist.

Also today:

All the best.

Ibrahim Daair

Culture + Society Editor
Conversational chatbots have risen in popularity recently, but when it comes to mental health, companies and users must be cautious about how they use the technology. (Shutterstock)

AI chatbots are still far from replacing human therapists

Ghalia Shamayleh, Concordia University

AI chatbots can provide people with immediate help, but the technology is still far from capable of replacing human therapists.
The Online News Act, or Bill C-18, is Canada’s attempt to address the imbalance between digital platforms and news publishers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Online News Act could give Google and Meta too much influence over Canadian news organizations

Sara Bannerman, McMaster University

The Online News Act could result in the formation of new agreements between news organizations and digital platform giants, which could give rise to a number of worrying developments.
Toxic customers are causing customer service employees to reach their breaking point. (Freepik/DCStudio)

The rise of the irate customer: Post-pandemic rudeness, and the importance of rediscovering patience

Laura Hambley, University of Calgary; Madeline Springle, University of Calgary

Decreased patience and heightened emotions have created a cycle of frustration, with rude customers having abrupt interactions with stressed out service workers.
Focusing on grades or scoring doesn’t help students learn and retain information and causes pressure and stress. (Unsplash/Elisa Ventur)

How ‘grade obsession’ is detrimental to students and their education

Nathan Rickey, Queen's University, Ontario; Andrew Coombs, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Christopher DeLuca, Queen's University, Ontario; Danielle LaPointe-McEwan, Queen's University, Ontario

Teachers in a study identify ‘grading obsession’ as a top challenge in education. Some are fighting back and dedicating class time to student self-assessment and peer assessment activities.
We do not laugh at the other’s suffering or distress; we react to the other’s surprise, incongruity and bewildered expression, having deciphered that he or she is not in distress and has not really hurt themselves. (Shutterstock)

Why do we laugh when someone falls down? Here’s what science says

Geneviève Beaulieu-Pelletier, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

A clinical psychologist explains what has the potential to trigger our usually well-meaning laughter.
Michelle Yeoh accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ at the Oscars on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and other Oscars 2023 films show a trend towards linguistic realism in Hollywood

Andrew Cheng, Simon Fraser University

Despite increasing use of non-English languages demonstrating broader acceptance of linguistic diversity in a globalized world, films sometimes suggest associations between ‘foreignness’ and villainy.

La Conversation Canada
Les villes dotées de services culturels et publics dynamiques ont tendance à mieux résister aux fermetures d’usines et aux licenciements massifs que les communautés qui en sont dépourvues et, après les fermetures d’usines, des jeunes s’y installent ou y demeurent. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Paul Chiasson

Les services publics et culturels jouent un rôle essentiel dans la résilience des villes

Florian Mayneris, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM); Kristian Behrens, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM); Manasse Drabo, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Des recherches préliminaires suggèrent que les services culturels et sociaux retiennent ou attirent les employés durement touchés par les fermetures d’usines dans d’autres communautés.

Arts

Health

  • Are we overthinking family meals? 5 realistic tips to ease the pressure

    Georgia Middleton, Flinders University; Eloise Litterbach, Deakin University; Fairley Le Moal, Flinders University; Susannah Ayre, Queensland University of Technology

    Although lots of parents consider family mealtimes important, they may also dread the planning and preparation involved.

Science + Tech