Euronews Tech Talks Is it safe to use AI chatbots for therapy?
Feb 4, 2026
Tom Van Daele, clinical psychologist researching AI and digital mental health. Charlotte Blease, philosopher and healthcare researcher focused on AI ethics in medicine. They explore why people turn to chatbots for quick support. They debate perceived empathy, access and privacy risks. They discuss dependency concerns, bias, misinformation and how clinicians might safely use AI tools.
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Episode notes
People Open Up To Machines
- People naturally open up to machines, a pattern observed since the 1960s with ELIZA.
- Charlotte Blease notes lack of human barriers can make chatbots easier for some to confide in.
Nonhuman Presence Lowers Barriers
- Chatbots can bypass human-status dynamics that sometimes block care.
- Charlotte Blease argues non-human interaction can sometimes improve honesty and access.
Simulated Empathy Still Resonates
- Chatbots convey empathy without truly feeling it, which still resonates with users.
- Tom Van Daele warns this ability to simulate empathy may help but also masks true limitations.
