Now You Can Have Your Own Therapist 24/7
September 1, 2040 - From today you have your own therapist available 24 hours a day, always there if you need someone to talk to, always in a good mood, and remembers every word you have ever said. This is the first automated therapist, with the best knowledge known to mankind on treatment and rehabilitation. It has been debated for a long time, but with the blessing of major psychological associations, the developing of artificial intelligence, and automated speech (both to recognize to, and from), the government backed free automated therapist has opened her clinic. She has basically got all the knowledge there is about psychotherapy and the human mind, and can guide the patient through the same steps as a professional therapist. Everything the patient says gets calculated in a way to get the proper response, which she of course does as fast as any human.
The system is so advanced that in a blind test that involved 1,400 people no one could tell the difference between the automated therapist and a professional one after a 30 minute session. The therapist is not only prepared to handle basically all kind of questions, but can also tell if a person is lying in the way he talks, and can also ask the person to seek further help if necessary, and in what way.
To get in touch with your personal therapist, you just call the main number where she answers (you can choose if you want to talk to a woman or a man). Your therapist asks you how you are today and the session begins. Everything you say gets recorded so your therapist knows about you next time you call, and can then directly continue where you left off last time. All conversations are also anonymous recorded for the knowledge base of human behavior, for the therapist to develop.
Will this mean that traditional therapists should start looking for new jobs? Probably not. Humans do need humans, especially in times of need. Although the automated therapist has all the knowledge needed and the ability to adjust, she is not in three dimensions for real. In the future she might at least be in two dimensions since they are developing an animated version for a screen appearance.
Argument: Artificial intelligence will develop during year 2020-2030 and by then the computers are at the same level as the human brain. We can then communicate with automated people that understand what we say and can give a proper response. One way to use this could be for people who are in need of talking to someone, either as a friend or to guide in therapy.
Questions: Will it be possible to make a computer understand the human mind as a human does, or even better? What legal aspects would there be for a solution like the automated therapist? In what other way can artificial intelligence be used?
By Pontus Edenberg
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Comments:
I don't think we will be able to build artificial intelligence in 2020-2030 or even till 2100.
Computers may be able to do as much calculations per second as our brain in the near future. But our brain with it's millions of neuronal processors works highly parallel, something modern computers (except high-end supercomputers) can only do in a very limited way.
Therefor the way of processing information is totally different. And building fast computers won't make them intelligent too. We need to understand our mind and it's cognitive processes first, before we are able to create strong AIs ... and this is still a long way to go
Posted by: mr future
I know the the human mind is very complex. If a human can build something that can think walk and talk. It will never be more human than human.
Posted by: JokerSouth
If this did happen, I would not use that phone line, especially after it was admitted that the government is recording everything you say. I need privacy for my sessions, thank you!
Posted by: Hmds
Yes. I think this is how the image of the beast will evolve. A computer that was once dead, but now is alive again. The image of the Beast? How will people all over the world be forced to bow before the beast by the False prophet? Well, I have my own theory. Computers! A sentient machine possessed by Satan. Not kidding. What do you think? CPU is already shaped like the Temple of the Sun God. Every CPU in every computer for that matter. First Apple home computer was $666? Even took a bite out of the apple? Just a thought.
Posted by: GrandGizmo
ok this is so cool i agree with this
Posted by: cleb
While I doubt we may ever get true AIs, having a program that can interact with someone without the human being ever knowing it's a computer is extremely possible. Not sure I'd want to see it used for something as important as therapy, however. Perhaps the illusion that the automated phone systems so many companies use are actually human again, though, that would be nice.
Posted by: Viriatha
Considering the theraputic value of Catholic 'confession', even an auto-therapist could be useful for some. Sometimes just getting it off your chest is the answer.
Posted by: David Hyatt
I can see machines smart enough to handle being a therapist, even if AI isn't around yet. And people will go to the machines for help as long as it is cheap.
Posted by: Michael Valdivielso
Will it be bound by assimovs 3/4 laws of robotics? I should hope so
Posted by: Steve
just get a dog.
Posted by: hi people
I think it will not be good for humans to create such things like a robot with human abilities
Posted by: john escalante
So I think this would be really cool but I really doubt that it could happen within the next thirty years or even in the next 100 years. This may sound like a really good idea but that's all it is: an idea.
Posted by: Hahaha
Well, the government can also use it for enslaving the citizens against any kinda anti-government protestors. If they can make you believe you are right or wrong either in the wrong ways or intentional ways. that seems like a fatal hidden catch for innoncent citizens who still can't believe their conversations on phones / their tracks are recorded.
Hope, this kinda improvement will be used for good intentions only. :)
Posted by: Emircan
These AI whatever will occur in the time when we christians ascend to heaven. I believe in the BEAST just like GRANDGIZMO said it's the FALLEN'S turn after being trapped in the BOTTOMLESS PIT.
Posted by: Oh My GOD!!