UCSD - University of California - San Diego

08/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/19/2026 10:13

The New Frontier of Emotional Support: Artificial Intelligence

Published Date

August 19, 2026

Article Content

This accompanying story is part of the 'Leading a Behavioral Health Transformation' feature in the 2026 issue of Discoveries magazine.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into daily life is becoming ubiquitous, acting as a personal assistant in everything from banking to online shopping. In health care, AI is already improving diagnostics and streamlining clinical workflows. However, a new frontier is emerging. People are increasingly turning to chatbots for emotional support.

This trend is particularly prevalent among young people, according to Cinnamon Bloss, PHD '07, a licensed clinical psychologist and professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and the School of Medicine, whose research focuses on the intersection of technology and health.

Data shows that 13% of 12- to 21-year-olds report using AI for mental health advice - a figure that jumps to 22% among those aged 18 to 21. Among these users, 65% seek advice at least once per month.

Why chatbots?

In a landscape defined by a youth mental health crisis and low access to care, many see AI as a tool to fill the gaps. Bloss and Melissa Karnaze '08, PHD, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health project scientist, convened a multidisciplinary panel to discuss the promise and risks of using AI for companionship, therapy and mental health support without the involvement of a health professional.

The panel included teenagers who identified two primary reasons for turning to AI: availability and a lack of judgment.

"Youth are looking for safe, trusted adults, but when those supports aren't available, they turn to what is accessible," said Bloss. "With thoughtful design and involvement from mental health professionals, AI tools could help expand access to care rather than replace it."

Fostering a prosocial AI evolution

While unregulated chatbots may miss warning signs and risk causing harm through inappropriate advice or reinforcement of harmful narratives, Bloss and Karnaze argued that academia must stay actively engaged to help guide the responsible evolution of this technology. In a 2026 commentary published in Nature Human Behaviour, they outlined the reasons to study human-AI emotional support, advocating for a five-pillar approach:

  1. Listen: Reflect on the lived experiences of real people to understand what makes AI appealing or risky.
  2. Research: Develop rigorous research agendas that align with user interests.
  3. Assess: Monitor shifting preferences and values regarding AI versus human therapy.
  4. Monitor harms: Maintain critical oversight of the "Wild West" of unregulated tools.
  5. Prepare: Train the workforce to handle a world where patients are using these tools.

Training the next generation

This preparation is already underway at UC San Diego through a new public health course co-directed by Bloss and Karnaze titled EMPATh-AI: Evidence-Based Practices for Mental Health Providers and Applications of Therapeutic AI Tools. The course equips graduate students to critically evaluate AI tools and engage in thoughtful conversations with patients about their use.

"We can't put the technology back in the box," said Karnaze. "I hope that students feel empowered to use their own critical thinking skills and adapt quickly because this technology is moving fast."

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