mental health

WHO says life expectancy nearly back to pre-Covid level

Global life expectancy has almost returned to where it stood before the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization said on Friday, October 2, that the number of years people spend in good health is recovering more slowly.

OpenAI releases benchmark to grade AI mental health responses

OpenAI on Wednesday released MentalHealthBench, an open benchmark of 1,215 synthetic mental health conversations built with more than 80 licensed mental health professionals to measure how AI models respond across a range of scenarios from everyday stress to urgent crises.

AI safety staff take sick leave, quit over fears of technology they built

Researchers at the forefront of artificial intelligence development are taking sick leave, seeking counseling, and resigning in growing numbers as the psychological weight of their work becomes unbearable, according to a Financial Times investigation published on September 22.

OpenAI commits $5M to study AI’s effects on teens

OpenAI on Tuesday announced a $5 million grant program to support independent research into how generative AI affects the lives of teenagers, as the company seeks to better understand the consequences of a technology that has rapidly woven itself into…

OpenAI launches dedicated ChatGPT for teens globally

OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled ChatGPT for Teens, a dedicated version of its chatbot designed for users aged 13 to 17 that includes parental controls, mental health safeguards, and tools meant to encourage critical thinking over quick answers. The product will…

Meta appeals social media addiction verdict as EU demands design changes

Meta Platforms has formally appealed the landmark jury verdict in the K.G.M. v. Meta case, which found the company liable for designing addictive social media platforms that harmed a young user's mental health, according to Bloomberg. The appeal, filed Thursday,…

People are using AI chatbots as ‘trip sitters’ for psychedelics

When Peter, a master's student in Alberta, consumed eight grams of magic mushrooms in 2023 and felt panic setting in, he didn't call a friend or seek human help. Instead, he turned to ChatGPT, typing "I took too much." The…