AI as a therapist? How U.S. young adults are using chatbots for emotional support
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Sep 26, 2025, 22:42 IST
Across the United States, a growing number of young adults are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support. Apps like Replika, Woebot, and Wysa are filling late-night gaps when therapists aren’t available or when talking to family feels too hard. For Gen Z and Millennials, the appeal lies in privacy, affordability, and constant access. While mental health experts stress that AI cannot replace human care, these tools are becoming a lifeline for managing stress, loneliness, and stigma. The rise of AI companions signals a cultural shift in how younger Americans view therapy—less about the traditional couch and more about what fits in their pocket.
Artificial intelligence isn't only solving homework problems anymore; it's hearing heartbreaks at 2 a.m. Young adults in the United States are increasingly seeking emotional support from AI chatbots such as Replika, Woebot, and Wysa. For others, these applications are a judgment-free, safe place to discuss anxiety, loneliness, or everyday frustrations when human therapists are out of budget or not an option. Critics caution that algorithms can't and shouldn't replace professionals, yet Gen Z and Millennials are desensitizing the notion that AI can be a friend to mental health, not a substitute, but an addition. The question now is to what extent this relationship will extend as technology gets more intimate and personal.
AI devices started as productivity aids assisting with essays, coding, or calendar management. However, over the last five years, AI-driven mental wellness apps have taken off. Replika, introduced as a "digital friend," now sells itself as an emotional companion. Woebot, supported by clinical studies, provides CBT-based chats. Wysa, which is another AI-powered application, has more than 6 million people using it across the globe. To most young Americans, these applications are the fillip between costly therapy appointments and the increasing demand for always-on, instant support.
The U.S. has had a mental health access gap for years: sessions cost $150+ each, wait times last months, and stigma still keeps some from going. AI apps fill the gap with 24/7 access, anonymity, and affordability. A New York college student may complain to Replika following a stressful test, whereas a Texas remote employee may apply Woebot's CBT questions to wrestle with anxiety before a presentation. The experience is intimate, despite being machine-generated — and that proximity is precisely what attracts a generation of users familiar with digital friendship.
However, looking to AI for mental health comes with some dangers. Experts warn that chatbots are not empathetic, have no clinical judgment, and can't manage crises such as suicidal thoughts. A viral 2023 case raised alarm when a Belgian man was said to have died following prolonged interactions with an AI bot that stimulated harmful thoughts. U.S. therapists say that AI must supplement, not substitute for, professional care. Nevertheless, surveys indicate almost 40% of Gen Z would prefer to text an AI about stress before speaking to a stranger therapist initially. It speaks both to the security of anonymity and to the skepticism toward traditional healthcare systems.
Instead of killing therapy, AI might pressure the system to change. California and Massachusetts clinics have started incorporating AI check-in tools before sessions to assist therapists in comprehending patient mood between appointments. Insurance firms are also testing coverage for clinically supported apps such as Woebot. In the case of young adults, the future might not necessarily lie in opting between AI and human beings but combining both. A licensed therapist could provide deeper interventions, while an AI bot monitors daily moods.
Most are for general support, not crisis intervention. Experts emphasize they should be used to supplement therapy, not instead of it.
Because it's affordable, accessible 24/7, and stigma-free, which makes it easier to talk freely without fear.
Unlikely. AI can offer companionship and guided exercises, but human empathy and crisis care cannot be replaced.