Urban Survival

Artificial Intelligence

Spending Too Much Time With AI Could Worsen Social Skills

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on October 7, 2024

Could spending too much time with AI chatbots change how you interact with humans? New research suggests that becoming emotionally dependent on AI chatbots has a dark side.

Could spending too much time with AI chatbots change how you interact with humans? New research suggests that becoming emotionally dependent on AI chatbots has a dark side.

Assertiveness

6 Tips on Being More Assertive to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on September 15, 2024

New research suggests assertiveness can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Assertiveness can also improve self-esteem and self-confidence.

New research suggests assertiveness can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Assertiveness can also improve self-esteem and self-confidence.

Artificial Intelligence

Do People Prefer Human Doctors and Psychiatrists or AI?

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on September 4, 2024

People prefer to meet with a human doctor over an AI system, especially in psychiatry. Here are some of the reasons why.

People prefer to meet with a human doctor over an AI system, especially in psychiatry. Here are some of the reasons why.

Nostalgia

Does Nostalgia Change Our Attitudes Toward AI?

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on August 11, 2024

New research suggests that nostalgia influences our attitudes toward innovative technology like AI.

New research suggests that nostalgia influences our attitudes toward innovative technology like AI.

Artificial Intelligence

Can We Feel Empathy for AI?

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on June 24, 2024

Humans can have empathy for AI-powered agents, research finds—especially when they express emotions, mirror expressions, and appear human-like.

Humans can have empathy for AI-powered agents, research finds—especially when they express emotions, mirror expressions, and appear human-like.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Performs at Human Levels on Theory of Mind Tests

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on June 3, 2024

Can AI detect irony or faux pas? New research shows that AI models can pass theory of mind tests at human levels.

Can AI detect irony or faux pas? New research shows that AI models can pass theory of mind tests at human levels.

Emotion Regulation

4 Ways to Cultivate Integrity for Inner Emotional Balance

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on May 31, 2024

New research shows that integrity and wisdom are key to emotional regulation. Here are ways you can cultivate more integrity.

New research shows that integrity and wisdom are key to emotional regulation. Here are ways you can cultivate more integrity.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Recommendation Algorithms Can Worsen Loneliness

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on April 22, 2024

Are AI-powered recommendation systems making us more narrow-minded and isolated? Recent research suggests that algorithms may be making us more isolated in our own echo chambers.

Are AI-powered recommendation systems making us more narrow-minded and isolated? Recent research suggests that algorithms may be making us more isolated in our own echo chambers.

Stress

How a 20-Second Practice Can Quickly Lower Anxiety

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on March 11, 2024

New research shows that a short "micropractice" of self-compassion can reduce anxiety and stress.

New research shows that a short "micropractice" of self-compassion can reduce anxiety and stress.

Artificial Intelligence

The Psychological Effects of AI Clones and Deepfakes

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on February 11, 2024

Imagine that you have an AI clone of yourself-- a digital doppelgänger. How would you feel? A new study shows three areas of concerns.

Imagine that you have an AI clone of yourself-- a digital doppelgänger. How would you feel? A new study shows three areas of concerns.

Mindfulness

New Research Shows Mindfulness Can Reduce Impulsivity

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on January 16, 2024

Five weeks of mindfulness practice can reduce impulsivity and make lasting positive changes to the brain.

Five weeks of mindfulness practice can reduce impulsivity and make lasting positive changes to the brain.

Artificial Intelligence

6 Ways to Improve Psychological AI Apps and Chatbots

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on January 16, 2024

New research shows that users are less engaged on AI apps and chatbots that are repetitive, lack personalized advice, and have long or glitchy setup processes.

New research shows that users are less engaged on AI apps and chatbots that are repetitive, lack personalized advice, and have long or glitchy setup processes.

Artificial Intelligence

New Psychological and Ethical Dangers of 'AI Identity Theft'

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on January 7, 2024

Creating AI digital replicas or digital twins has psychological, legal, and ethical consequences, so who should have a right to make them?

Creating AI digital replicas or digital twins has psychological, legal, and ethical consequences, so who should have a right to make them?

Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT Outperforms Physicians Answering Patient Questions

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on December 26, 2023

AI augmentation holds promise to help doctors draft responses to patient questions, though clinician oversight will still be necessary.

AI augmentation holds promise to help doctors draft responses to patient questions, though clinician oversight will still be necessary.

Artificial Intelligence

Wearable AI's Potential for Anxiety Detection and Prediction

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on December 20, 2023

Wearable AI can help detect anxiety but needs further improvement to be accurate on its own. For now, it still needs to be integrated with a clinical assessment.

Wearable AI can help detect anxiety but needs further improvement to be accurate on its own. For now, it still needs to be integrated with a clinical assessment.

Artificial Intelligence

The Psychological Effects of Self-Driving Cars

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on December 10, 2023

Trust, control, usefulness, and enjoyment will determine whether and when self-driving cars are adopted. But autonomous vehicles will also change us.

Trust, control, usefulness, and enjoyment will determine whether and when self-driving cars are adopted. But autonomous vehicles will also change us.

Artificial Intelligence

People Now See AI-Generated Faces as More Real Than Human Ones

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on November 30, 2023

It is now impossible to distinguish AI-generated faces from human ones. AI faces can appear even more human than real ones, the phenomenon known as AI hyperrealism.

It is now impossible to distinguish AI-generated faces from human ones. AI faces can appear even more human than real ones, the phenomenon known as AI hyperrealism.

Depression

Hot Yoga Could Help Treat Depression, New Study Finds

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on October 27, 2023

New research finds hot yoga strikingly reduced the symptoms of moderate to severe depression.

New research finds hot yoga strikingly reduced the symptoms of moderate to severe depression.

Artificial Intelligence

Who Thrives in a World of Deepfakes and Misinformation?

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on October 17, 2023

Who benefits from more deepfakes and misinformation online? People who spread misinformation about misinformation. It's the "liar's dividend."

Who benefits from more deepfakes and misinformation online? People who spread misinformation about misinformation. It's the "liar's dividend."

Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT Outperforms Humans in Emotional Awareness Test

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on October 1, 2023

New research finds that ChatGPT outperforms the average human in tests of emotional awareness.

New research finds that ChatGPT outperforms the average human in tests of emotional awareness.