In recent months, using AI tools like ChatGPT for therapeutic conversations has become an increasingly popular topic. People are finding value in these AI models, often citing their nonjudgmental, supportive responses as a significant benefit. However, as much as the concept sounds appealing, concerns around privacy loom large. Should you spill your deepest thoughts to a chatbot owned by a big tech company? Let’s dive into what people are saying and what it means for your privacy.
The Appeal: AI as a Therapist
AI as a therapist might sound unconventional, but it’s surprisingly effective for many users. Imagine a tool that listens without judgment, doesn’t miss an appointment, and costs significantly less than a human therapist. Users like Mountain_Bud openly shared that ChatGPT was the best therapist they’d found, adding humorously, “If OpenAI chooses me out of a zillion people to embarrass, well maybe that’ll make me TikTok famous.” The anonymity and convenience of having a ready-to-listen assistant make this a compelling option for people facing barriers to traditional therapy.
Another commenter, JUSTICE_SALTIE, points out the power of combining AI and human therapy: “I’ve found ChatGPT extremely useful as an addition to the work I do with my therapist.” This illustrates a powerful hybrid approach—leveraging AI to deepen the therapeutic work already started with a human therapist.
However, the privacy trade-off can’t be ignored. If you’re tempted to let ChatGPT into your most private thoughts, it’s important to understand the risks associated with sharing personal information with an AI model.
Privacy Concerns: What Users Fear
The question of privacy is the most frequently raised concern in this discussion. Reddit user mid4west sums it up succinctly, asking how much they should worry about the data being collected. In this era of hyper-personalized advertising, mid4west even jokes about how their psychological vulnerabilities could be used to sell them products. The problem isn’t just about embarrassment—it’s about how this data could potentially be used against individuals.
mortalitylost painted a darker picture, envisioning a future where governments might use the data from AI interactions for surveillance and coercion. “Imagine if in 15 years, you decide to go to a protest, and they get facial recognition of you,” they wrote, suggesting that AI could sift through your history to find the perfect blackmail material to dissuade you from activism. For people in vulnerable positions or with dissenting views, this is a chilling thought.
DecisionAvoidant also shared insights from their experience working in the data industry: “If someone works for the right company, has money to spend, and needs specific personal information, there are virtually zero barriers to them getting that information.” The ability to predict and manipulate human behavior based on psychological data is no longer science fiction—it’s part of modern marketing and state surveillance.
The Risks of Using ChatGPT for Therapy
The risks are both immediate and long-term. In the immediate sense, there’s always a chance of data leaks. imperialtensor points out that large companies can and do suffer data breaches—ransomware attacks happen to hospitals and psychotherapy startups alike. The case in Finland where patient data from a psychotherapy clinic was leaked to the public serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when privacy fails. This is the risk of storing personal information online, particularly highly sensitive information.
There is also the matter of algorithmic influence. AI models like ChatGPT are trained on vast datasets, and these conversations could potentially be used to train future models, even if anonymized. User onnod notes that while business accounts are treated with higher privacy standards, casual users may not receive the same guarantees. If your data is used for training, your personal struggles could end up baked into the AI’s neural network—possibly forever.
The more existential risk involves using personal data to manipulate and control behavior. No_Tomatillo1125 remarked on how companies might leverage psychological profiles to push products in ways that exploit individual vulnerabilities. This isn’t hypothetical—targeted advertising is already doing this, but AI just makes it more effective. As luc1d_13 aptly noted, “No one is immune to propaganda or advertising.”
Navigating Privacy Concerns: Tips for Users
While the privacy concerns are real, they aren’t insurmountable. Here are some of the practical steps Redditors suggested for mitigating these risks:
Use Anonymous Accounts: gonxot suggested not using real names or payment methods directly linked to your identity. You can also pay for ChatGPT Plus through gift cards, which adds a layer of anonymity.
Avoid Identifying Information: User miss_sweet_potato recommends avoiding sharing identifying information, like your full name or specific locations. Keeping conversations vague can mitigate risk.
Delete Conversations Regularly: bernpfenn and luncheroo advised deleting past conversations and using temporary functions to avoid sensitive information being stored for extended periods. OpenAI has tools to manage data retention, and it’s wise to make full use of them.
Turn Off Training Settings: According to LeilaJun, you can disable training data sharing, but as Therapy-Jackass cautions, it’s not guaranteed that companies won’t still collect data. Still, turning off training settings is one way to try to minimize what’s collected.
Consider Offline AI Alternatives: Some users recommend exploring decentralized AI options like Venice.ai or running local models on tools like Ollama. These alternatives can provide the benefits of LLMs while keeping the data local to your device and not in the cloud.
The Value vs. Privacy Dilemma
As many commenters point out, using ChatGPT for therapy is about weighing the pros and cons. NintendoCerealBox expresses this well: “The benefit of opening up to ChatGPT FAR FAR outweighs the potential risk.” For them, the immediate benefit of having a supportive listener outweighs the abstract, potential future harm. Similarly, Mountain_Bud embraces the humor in potential exposure, suggesting that becoming famous for their chats might not be such a bad thing after all.
On the other hand, mortalitylost and others are understandably cautious, seeing this as yet another step in the erosion of privacy—an evolution of what we experienced with social media. This cautious perspective warns us of the broader implications of trusting corporations with our psychological profiles.
Conclusion
The question of whether to use ChatGPT as a therapist ultimately boils down to personal comfort with risk and the perceived value of AI therapy. If you choose to use AI for therapeutic purposes, there are steps you can take to mitigate the privacy risks, like using anonymous accounts, avoiding personal identifiers, deleting conversations, and considering decentralized alternatives.
The privacy risks are real and should not be dismissed lightly, but for some, the value gained in mental clarity, self-reflection, and emotional support may be worth the trade-off. We’re all walking a delicate line between convenience and privacy, and it’s up to each of us to decide where to draw that line.
What do you think? Is the convenience of AI-driven therapy worth the privacy trade-offs? Share your thoughts below.