The Bay Is AI Coming for Your Therapist’s Job?
9 snips
Jan 23, 2026 April Damboski, a healthcare correspondent for KQED, explores the shifting landscape of AI in mental health care. She discusses the implementation of AI note-takers in clinics, freeing up time for clinicians. Concerns arise as Kaiser mental health clinicians negotiate to keep AI from replacing their roles. Damboski highlights the need for privacy and job security while contrasting chatbots with traditional therapies. The conversation emphasizes that AI should support, not overshadow, the essential human empathy in therapy.
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TV Scene Mirrors Real AI Use
- April recounts a TV example where a doctor uses an AI app in the exam room to auto-fill the chart.
- The AI produced useful summaries but needed human proofreading for errors.
AI Note-Takers Are Already In Clinics
- AI note-takers are already being used in clinical visits to summarize exams and write charts automatically.
- Clinicians say these tools save time but still require careful proofreading and oversight.
Union Seeks Contract Guardrails
- Kaiser mental health clinicians are bargaining for contract language that prevents AI from replacing therapists.
- Kaiser declined to include that protection, surprising staff because a Southern California contract had agreed to it earlier.