Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Fulham Palace Rd, London, W6 8RF, United Kingdom, 44 547836088.
Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
JMIR Ment Health. 2024 Oct 17;11:e58011. doi: 10.2196/58011.
Knowledge has become more open and accessible to a large audience with the "democratization of information" facilitated by technology. This paper provides a sociohistorical perspective for the theme issue "Responsible Design, Integration, and Use of Generative AI in Mental Health." It evaluates ethical considerations in using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for the democratization of mental health knowledge and practice. It explores the historical context of democratizing information, transitioning from restricted access to widespread availability due to the internet, open-source movements, and most recently, GenAI technologies such as large language models. The paper highlights why GenAI technologies represent a new phase in the democratization movement, offering unparalleled access to highly advanced technology as well as information. In the realm of mental health, this requires delicate and nuanced ethical deliberation. Including GenAI in mental health may allow, among other things, improved accessibility to mental health care, personalized responses, and conceptual flexibility, and could facilitate a flattening of traditional hierarchies between health care providers and patients. At the same time, it also entails significant risks and challenges that must be carefully addressed. To navigate these complexities, the paper proposes a strategic questionnaire for assessing artificial intelligence-based mental health applications. This tool evaluates both the benefits and the risks, emphasizing the need for a balanced and ethical approach to GenAI integration in mental health. The paper calls for a cautious yet positive approach to GenAI in mental health, advocating for the active engagement of mental health professionals in guiding GenAI development. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that GenAI advancements are not only technologically sound but also ethically grounded and patient-centered.
随着技术促进信息民主化，大量受众可以更加开放和便捷地获取知识。本文从社会历史的角度出发，为主题为“负责任的设计、整合和在心理健康中使用生成式人工智能”的特刊提供了一个视角。它评估了在心理健康知识和实践的民主化中使用生成式人工智能（GenAI）的伦理考量。本文探讨了民主化信息的历史背景，从由于互联网、开源运动以及最近的大型语言模型等 GenAI 技术而导致的受限访问过渡到广泛可用。本文强调了为什么 GenAI 技术代表着民主化运动的新阶段，为高度先进的技术和信息提供了前所未有的访问途径。在心理健康领域，这需要进行微妙和细致的伦理思考。将 GenAI 纳入心理健康领域可能会带来一些好处，例如改善心理健康护理的可及性、个性化响应和概念灵活性，并可能促进医疗保健提供者和患者之间传统等级制度的扁平化。但与此同时，这也带来了必须认真应对的重大风险和挑战。为了应对这些复杂性，本文提出了一个用于评估基于人工智能的心理健康应用的战略问卷。该工具评估了人工智能的益处和风险，强调了在心理健康中整合 GenAI 需要采取平衡和道德的方法。本文呼吁在心理健康中谨慎但积极地采用 GenAI，倡导心理健康专业人员积极参与指导 GenAI 的开发。本文强调了确保 GenAI 进步不仅在技术上合理，而且在伦理上和以患者为中心的重要性。
