A study led by Bournemouth University suggests many adults are open to using AI tools for support.
Researchers surveyed nearly 31,000 adults across 35 countries about their views on large language models such as ChatGPT and found that 41% of people in the UK would be willing to use AI tools for counselling or mental health support.
The research also found 25% of UK participants said they would trust artificial intelligence to take on the role of teaching their children, while globally 45% of people said they would trust AI to act as a doctor.
Dr Ala Yankouskaya, senior lecturer in psychology at Bournemouth University, said growing availability of the technology means more people are turning to it for advice and support.
She said waiting times for mental health services may influence this trend, adding that someone experiencing depression “does not want to wait months for an appointment”.
However, the researchers stressed that AI cannot replace professional care and warned that its responses can be “very vague and confusing”.
The team concluded that greater public understanding of how AI systems work, and their limitations, will be important as these tools become more widely used in daily life.
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