AI for mental health has enormous promise - and this new study shows what’s possible. Incredible work from the team at Slingshot AI and New York University. In the first-ever real-world study in this work, Ash was found to contradict one of the most persistent criticisms of AI for mental health: that AI isolates people from genuine human connection. Instead, the Slingshot team saw the opposite: overall, participants reported feeling more socially connected with real people. Users spent more time outside of the home and, on average, reported having one new person they could rely on. Ash also excelled in all safety measures. This study marks a significant milestone, showcasing not only the powerful opportunity behind this work but also that it can be conducted safely and responsibly. Read the preprint: https://lnkd.in/g9YHrCaT
Today, we’re humbled and excited to share something meaningful: an early look at the results from our first real-world study on how a foundational AI model for mental health can support people’s wellbeing - conducted in collaboration with New York University. This summer, over 10 weeks, participants used Ash on their own terms — at 2 a.m. when they couldn’t sleep, on lunch breaks, or during commutes. What we found was that Ash contradicted one of the most persistent criticisms of AI: that it isolates people. Instead, participants reported feeling more connected, more hopeful, and more supported, spending more time with others, and gaining, on average, one new person they could rely on. 72% reported less loneliness 75% felt more supported socially 95% made measurable progress toward personal goals Beyond social connection, users also reported meaningful changes in emotional wellbeing — with reductions in depression and anxiety comparable to those often seen in traditional forms of mental health support. Just as importantly, Ash excelled in all safety measures. It’s an early signal, but an encouraging one, that when designed thoughtfully, AI can be transparent, responsible, and deeply pro-human. Our mission remains simple: to help a billion people change their minds and lives, in the ways they want to. 🧠 Read more about the study in the link below. A special shout-out to a few of the paper authors: Thomas Derrick Hull, Pat Arean, and Matteo Malgaroli, PhD #ArtificialIntelligence #mentalhealth #DigitalMentalHealth