Google is investing in two initiatives to research how AI could be used to provide mental health treatment.
The tech giant is exploring AI solutions to “democratize access to quality, evidence-based” mental health support, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, according to a July 7 news release.
Here are five things to know:
- Google is partnering with Grant Challenges Canada and the McKinsey Health Institute to develop a field guide for mental health organizations for scaling AI interventions. The guide offers use cases and considerations for using AI to improve clinician training, streamline workflows and improve data collection.
- For the second initiative, Google will contribute to an investment in AI research for mental health treatment for anxiety, depression and psychosis, alongside the Wellcome Trust.
- The funding will support research investigating more precise measurements of mental health conditions and developing new therapeutic interventions, including novel medications.
- A December 2023 survey found that over half of mental health providers use AI in some form in their practice.
- Some studies have attested to the potential usefulness of AI in mental health treatment. One such study, published in March in NEJM AI, found that an AI-powered chatbot produced similar outcomes to outpatient therapy.
