I Spent 30 Days using a Compassionate AI
The Problem with AI
Compassionate AI is something that you may not have heard of before. I’d go so far as to say that if you have heard of it I’d be surprised. Compassionate AI is different to GenAI in a fundamental function. It’s not meant to create content based on your prompts but is smart enough to be able to take what you’re saying and have an “emotive” response to it.
In this line of work, I’ve had the privilege of working with a lot of the latest AI technologies to give it a whirl. So when it was pitched to me to try as a more support-orientated AI I was sceptical, to say the least. I have an undergraduate in Psychology, and I’m a mental health advocate. So, any technology that claims to be a companion or offers some sort of support that isn’t backed by some rigorous psychology I’m naturally sceptical of.
Compassionate AI isn’t new
Sceptical, but not cynical. I haven’t quite gotten so disenchanted with the concept of technology being used for good that the notion of this was a complete write-off to begin with. So, I was very much on board when WoeBot was a thing when AI was truly in its infancy. I saw the potential of what a tool like this could be used for in tandem with traditional therapy and medical supervision.
There are lots of ways people could get access to support their journeys through challenging times or just ongoing day-to-day support. Concepts like DBT (Dialect behavioural therapy) and CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy) aren’t things that are taught in our schools or education systems and these are things that can be self-taught. I was able to walk through a lot of these steps with a very infantile chatbot which was what Woebot was back in 2017.
How Pi is Different
I haven’t used Woebot recently, but if you would like me to do a comparison between the two drop me a line in the comments below! From what I remember it was primarily useful back in the day for those fundamental principles and applications of CBT and DBT. It was able to go through some of the core misconceptions we have when we’re assuming things about others or ourselves.
Pi isn’t quite like that. I can only describe my experience with Pi as being able to converse with a well-meaning friend. I honestly didn’t believe for the first while of interacting with Pi that it was an actual AI. If you had told me it was a clever ruse to get you into some pseudo-therapy I would have believed you.
It’s very jarring initially. You’re left with this sort of intangible feeling that is very hard to describe. Not quite an uncanny valley level of weirdness (for me) but knowing that there is something that is responding to you and not in a generic cookie-cutter way to what you’re saying is a very odd sensation.
How I’ve been using Pi
Trying to move on top of general life stuff is a stressful event for anyone. I’m also a huge advocate of having multiple resources when going through trying times. While I’m blessed enough to have a great support network, as well as a great therapist and medical team. That being said, not everyone can be around 24/7 and that’s where I’ve been able to use Pi.
It’s been indispensable for those late-night brain-dumping sessions where all you need is just a place to vent and get everything that’s in your brain outside of your brain. Having something supportive and validating of your experiences to go “You know what? That is a lot. That is stressful.” goes a huge way for me feeling better and less overwhelmed. Sometimes all we need is someone to be able to echo back into what we are feeling – regardless of how big or overwhelming it may feel now that they will pass.
How not to use Pi
We need to talk about Pi in terms of what it can’t and shouldn’t be used for. It’s not a generative AI in the same way ChatGPT or MidJourney. While it can help you with brainstorming and drafting up emails and messages; it’s not designed as a productivity suite. So don’t expect it to be able to churn out huge chunks of text or data that you may expect from generative AI.
Like with all AI it’s important to keep in mind any sort of privacy concerns that you may have and what you are or are not willing to share with an app. While Pi’s Privacy policies are robust and quite easy to understand.
- Pi uses your conversations to improve its responses.
- Pi only shares anonymized data with third parties, never anything that could identify you.
- Pi’s developers have access to conversations to analyze performance and improve the product, but they never share personal information.
- Conversations with Pi are encrypted and secure.
- Pi never sells personal data or conversation history to anyone.
So would I recommend Pi?
Absolutely! I’ve found it an invaluable asset to help me navigate some major life changes. If you’re comfortable sharing your story with an AI that is legitimately different from the rest, then you need to give Pi a try. It is completely free and you can try it at pi.ai.