Given HIFA's declared objectives, I think it is important to be evidence-based om this list, even (and perhaps especially) when talking about artificial intelligence! It's easy to get carried away by enthusiasm, but there is uncomfortable evidence to consider as well.
We should not forget that there are serious doubts about the value of current versions of AI, especially in providing mental health advice, but also in counseling in general. To name just two highly reputable sources, see https://www.scribbr.com/ai-tools/is-chatgpt-trustworthy/ and https://mpgone.com/is-chatgpt-accurate-the-truth-in-a-2025-expert-review/
The first concludes that "ChatGPT is not a credible source of factual information" and that "its answers aren't always trustworthy".
The second (an excellent review by someone who works in the health sector) is quite positive about the use of AI (specifically ChatGPT) in medicine, but concludes:
- What ChatGPT Does Well in Medicine: 1) Answering general health questions, 2) Explaining medical terms in simple language, 3) Suggesting possible conditions based on symptoms, and 4) Providing medication information
- Where It Struggles:: 1) Making actual diagnoses (it’s not licensed!), 2) Handling rare diseases, 3) Interpreting medical images, 4) Providing emergency medical advice.
- "Hallucinations" include: 1) Fake citations: Creates academic papers that don’t exist; 2) Invented statistics: Makes up percentages and data points, 3) False historical events: Describes things that never occurred; and 4) Imaginary people: Names experts who aren’t real
We should follow the evidence!
Best,
Chris
Chris Zielinski
Centre for Global Health, University of Winchester, UK and
President, World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
Blogs; http://ziggytheblue.wordpress.com and http://ziggytheblue.tumblr.com
Publications: http://www.researchgate.net and https://winchester.academia.edu/ChrisZielinski/
HIFA Profile: Chris Zielinski held senior positions at the World Health Organization for 15 years, in Africa, WHOs Geneva Headquarters, and India, and earlier in other UN-system organizations working in writing, media, publishing, knowledge management, and intellectual property. He also spent three years as Chief Executive of the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (looking after the intellectual property revenues of all UK authors and journalists). Chris was the founder of the ExtraMED project (Third World biomedical journals on CD-ROM), and managed the Gates Foundation-supported Health Information Centres project. At WHO he was appointed to the Ethical Review Committee, and was an originator of the African Health Observatory during his years in Brazzaville. With interests in the information, and computer ethics and bioethics, Chris has edited numerous books and journals and worked as a translator. Now working independently, Chris has recently finished writing a travel book called Afreekinout. Email: chris AT chriszielinski.com