‘AI may know me better’: why Hongkongers turn to chatbots for mental health help

Joe*, a 20-year-old Hong Kong student, began seeking emotional support for dating advice, family relationships and stress management a few months ago to ease his anxieties.He asked questions during his commute to school, while studying in the evening and even when he could not sleep late at night.His go-to chatbot: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which he accesses through the artificial intelligence (AI) aggregator app, Poe.“To a certain extent, AI may know me better than my friends,” Joe said.Joe is among a growing number of Hongkongers turning to AI to navigate emotional distress. While some mental health advocates have cautioned against an overreliance that could slow down recovery, experts suggest AI can complement traditional therapy if used mindfully.The overall average depression and anxiety scores in the city have hit the highest levels on record, according to a survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong released in early March.While friends and family remain the primary support network, about 22 per cent of residents now turn to AI chatbots to help manage their emotions.