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WSJ Tech News Briefing · Saturday, September 12, 2026

Psychiatrist Warns of Risks with General AI Chatbots for Mental Health

Karthik Sarma, a psychiatrist and researcher, expresses concern that general AI chatbots could harm vulnerable individuals, and that the companies behind them may not be equipped to prevent such harm. He emphasizes the importance of licensed and educated professionals in providing mental health services due to the real risks involved.

personKarthik Sarma

The tape

2 quotes
And that the companies behind the AI might not know how to stop it.
Karthik Sarma
There's a reason why therapists are licensed. They have to be educated. And anyone who's providing these services has to be educated because there are real risks.
Karthik Sarma
Heard on WSJ Tech News Briefing — “Is AI the Answer to America’s Mental-Health Crisis?, published Saturday, September 12, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.04
Psychiatrist Warns of Risks with General AI Chatbots for Mental Health — Heardvine