Sonia’s AI Chatbot Wants to Become Your New Therapist 

Startup Sonia is said to become your new AI therapist at the press of a button but doesn't have an eye on replacing your old therapist. 

Startup Sonia is said to become your new AI therapist at the press of a button but doesn’t have an eye on replacing your old therapist. 

In a recent study, it was found out that 80% of users on OpenAI ChatGPT seek mental health advice and believe that it a suitable alternative for traditional therapists. 

Another report suggests that chatbots may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the relationship between therapist and client is still important in the success of psychotherapy. Our entrepreneur believes in the healing potential of chatbots. Startup Sonia serves specialist doctors through an iOS app.  

Users can talk or write about a variety of topics using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help manage their brains, in a way we as Sonia CEO Klebe said: “Instead of repackaging existing technologies, we create new technologies.” 


How Sonia Works 

Sonia uses generative Model AI that examines “user conversations during treatment” and responds accordingly. The app costs $20 per month or $200 per year and provides “tasks” to enhance understanding of the course. It also can visualize identifying your biggest stress sources. For serious situations such as suicidal thoughts, Sonia has a system that detects emergencies and directs users to the national helpline. Hire psychologists and hire psychologists with master’s degrees.  

They are also looking for a full-time psychologist. However, it was not stated where and when the chat records were stored. Human Connection Sonia has nearly 8,000 users and has raised $3.35 million in funding from investors including Y Combinator and Moonfire. The app has been well received on the App Store, and many users find it easier to talk to a chatbot than to talk to a human doctor. Concerned about quality.  

They may miss signs of serious problems or be influenced by biases in teaching materials that may overlook cultural and linguistic differences. For example, a chatbot may not be able to detect signs of an eating disorder in a person who asks about weight loss. “We create solutions for the millions of people who struggle with mental illness but cannot (or do not want to) find a human doctor,” he said. The goal is to close the gap between demand and supply for mental health services. 

Final Thoughts  

Tech advancements are a great aid for humans at challenging times but one thing that we should always keep in mind is that there is no alternative for humanistic presence. In therapy, face-to-face contact is essential for several reasons, but the main reason is not to cause labelling. A therapist observes your behavior, body movements, and listens to the tone of your voice while sharing what you have but a therapist bot doesn’t and will never have these capabilities.  

Another point that one can’t seem to ignore is that the ways of collecting data is becoming creative. When a user is seeking help from a therapist bot, this person is inputting his or her info which leads the bot to having several cues about human information.  

Technological advancements are great but let us create a red line to when things get out of control. 


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