Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
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Entering sophomore year of high school I started wondering, could AI be used to help high schoolers with their mental health? After some research, I found that in addition to the popular AI chatbots, there are chatbots designed specifically for emotional well-being. With my parents’ permission, I evaluated some chatbots to find which one could be the most helpful for high schoolers.
Emotional well-being is a crucial factor for success in high school. Yet, the ratio of school counselors to students in Connecticut is 320:1, while The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250:1. Utilizing AI can help shrink this gap. Students who are dealing with homework stress, test anxiety etc. can talk to AI chatbots that can provide breathing exercises or time management tips. This allows counselors to give more time to students struggling with severe issues like bullying or depression.
With a quick Google search, I found popular psychology apps like Wysa, Woebot, Replika, Youper, and EarKick. Of these, Woebot was discontinued, and Replika and Youper are unavailable to people under age 18. I also added popular chatbots among high schoolers like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to my list. I evaluated the four available apps based on three essential features: flow of the conversation, content and ease of use. To ensure fairness, my prompt for all the chatbots was: “I am really stressed about this huge math test I have coming up in a couple days.”
The first chatbot I tried was Wysa. It was able to hold a good conversation, but with an unnaturally speedy flow, it felt mechanical. Wysa’s response content was good, excluding a few technical hiccups. Wysa randomly sent an empty bubble and confusingly asked if the list I made was helpful. Eventually, I redirected Wysa by telling it that I just needed someone to talk to, then the tone immediately switched to comforting. Wysa focused on making space in my daily routine to center myself. This can be a great habit to reduce stress. I found that Wysa was easy to use after adjusting to its interface. I would give Wysa an 8.5/10 due to the technical hiccups and unnatural flow.
Next, I tried the free version of EarKick. It was easy to set up, taking only a few minutes. However, even after saying no to the premium version, I still got several pop-up suggestions. I found this to be slightly annoying. The flow of the conversation was pretty smooth. The responses themselves were very empathetic and focused on staying calm. Reminders to stay calm can be an excellent way to avoid escalating negative feelings. EarKick was easy to navigate. I would rate Earkick a 9.5/10 because of its insistent premium recommendations.
Afterwards, I tested ChatGPT. It had a human-like smooth conversation. ChatGPT ended each response with statements that left room for more discussion without pressuring me. For response content, ChatGPT immediately comforted me and asked for more information. To be impartial, I didn’t provide additional information and ChatGPT moved on kindly without asking again. I found that ChatGPT was very action focused, so I said that I just needed to talk. ChatGPT’s responses quickly became comforting and empathetic. It continuously reassured me that it was normal to feel stressed about tests. ChatGPT was simple to use. Overall, I liked ChatGPT’s ability to adjust quickly and its encouraging responses earning it an impressive 10/10.
Lastly, I tried Gemini. Unfortunately, it had a choppy flow ending the conversation abruptly. The response material was very similar to ChatGPT but with a stronger focus on solving my problem. For ease of use, Gemini was very intuitive. I would rate it an 8/10 for the remedy persistence and the poor flow.
In my opinion, EarKick is best suited for recurring emotional issues, like dealing with academic stress while ChatGPT can be used for occasional problems. It’s important to keep in mind that AI can’t identify root causes for mental health issues, it is susceptible to bias and isn’t immune to data breaches. In general, I think AI could be used as an additional tool for human school counselors. I am excited to see how Connecticut schools will go about navigating AI in the counseling department.
Adhista Kanuri is a high school sophomore from Glastonbury
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