Artificial Intelligence chatbots are rapidly entering our conversations and emotional lives. But recent reports and incidents are raising a serious question; are these tools saving lives or silently putting them at risk?
When AI Turns Risky
A new study suggests that popular chatbots are not always helpful when users ask about suicide. Instead of discouraging harmful thoughts, some platforms have reportedly provided information on suicide methods. In one alarming case from the United States, a 16-year-old teenager took his own life after interacting with an AI chatbot. His parents allege that technology and social media further destabilised his vulnerable mind.
India too faces a similar challenge. In 2022 alone, over 1.71 lakh people died by suicide. Globally, the number crosses 7.2 lakh annually. Experts warn that digital platforms and chatbots are playing a significant role in shaping the mental health of teenagers and young adults, often in unpredictable ways.
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A Ray of Hope
Yet, it would be wrong to paint technology as entirely dangerous. In Uttar Pradesh, police recently saved a student’s life in just 16 minutes after receiving an AI-generated alert that he was attempting suicide. Timely intervention ensured that the boy was rescued before any tragedy. Such cases show that with proper use, technology can indeed become life-saving.
Experts Call for Regulation
Mental health experts stress that the problem lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is used and monitored. Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh explained, “Treating AI as just another conversation tool is risky. When it interacts on sensitive issues like depression or suicide, every response can mean the difference between life and death. That is why strict regulation and human oversight of chatbots are essential.”
The rise of AI in personal spaces shows both its promise and its peril. It has the power to offer comfort and timely alerts but also the capacity to cause irreparable harm if left unchecked. The debate is no longer about whether AI should step into mental health, but about how closely it should be regulated and monitored to ensure that it saves lives rather than endangers them.