Who wants to have an AI therapist? Acceptance of Using Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health Interventions Among Clinicians, Patients, and the General Community

Abstract

Background. The integration of AI-based digital technologies in mental healthcare represents a transformative shift, especially with regards to chatbots, and avatar-based interventions. A central component of the success of AI-based digital mental health interventions has to do with the level of acceptance of this new technology; the degree to which stakeholders perceive a technology as useful, user-friendly, and worth adopting. We aimed to establish the level of acceptance of AI-based digital mental health interventions (AI chatbot, AI avatar-based interventions) compared to the acceptance levels of teletherapy via videoconferencing among clinicians, patients, and a representative community sample (i.e., potential future patients). We also explored the extent to which these difference towards these technologies might be explained by individuals’ attitudes towards AI in general. Methods. Clinicians (N= 658), patients (N= 451), and US census-based community sample (N= 520) completed standardized measures of everyday artificial intelligence use, general attitudes towards AI, and acceptability of digital technology use for mental health interventions. Results. We found that community participants are most optimistic about AI-based mental health tools (chatbots and avatars), whereas clinicians consistently express more skepticism, especially regarding usability. General attitudes toward AI (both positive and negative) play a major role in shaping acceptance of chatbot and avatar-based interventions, often more than their professional role or demographic identity. Discussion. These findings might carry clinical implications for the design, deployment, and integration of these technologies into mental health services.

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