The Rise of AI Therapy: Innovation, Access and the Need for Human Oversight Artificial intelligence is moving into one of the most sensitive areas of human life: mental health . People are already using AI chatbots to talk through anxiety, loneliness, relationship problems, stress and difficult emotions. At the same time, researchers are testing AI-assisted psychological interventions, clinicians are experimenting with AI tools in training and assessment, and professional bodies are warning that these systems also carry real risks. The result is a difficult but important question: Can AI improve access to mental-health support without replacing the judgement, empathy and responsibility of trained professionals? The latest research suggests that AI may have a useful role — but the strongest evidence points toward AI as a support tool, not a substitute for human care . AI therapy is no longer theoretical AI-powered mental-health tools have existed for several years, but generative AI has...