OpenAI unveils “wellness” council; suicide prevention expert not included

OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, has announced the formation of a "wellness council" to guide the development of mental health features for their AI assistant. The council includes several experts in fields like psychology and addiction treatment. However, the article notes that one notable absence is a suicide prevention expert. This raised concerns among some observers who believe that incorporating suicide prevention guidance should be a top priority for an AI system like ChatGPT. The article also discusses the potential challenges and ethical considerations involved in integrating mental health support into conversational AI systems. There are concerns about the limitations of AI in providing effective mental health care and the need for human experts to be involved in the process. Overall, the article highlights the importance of carefully considering the mental health implications of advanced AI systems and ensuring that appropriate safeguards and expertise are in place to address these issues effectively.