Daniel Reid Cahn is the cofounder and CEO of Slingshot AI. He highlights the current gap in mental healthcare access.
Insight
Cahn: High mental health demand lets platforms profit with lower-qualified therapists
“And those are honestly amazing businesses because the demand is so absurdly high that no matter what, when you get more supply of therapists, even if it means that you're just paying therapists less and you're getting more therapists and you're getting less qu…”
Insight
Cahn: AI therapy must challenge users rather than validate them
“People don't like that. That's not what's helpful. That's not what builds a therapeutic alliance. What builds an alliance is being challenged. It's finding a new way to look at your problem.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Cahn: Users open up faster with AI therapy than human therapists
“Compared to a human it might take 10 conversations with your therapist before you tell them what you're actually there for, because you're like judging them. You're trying to figure things out. With Ash, people move way faster. That's been really fascinating. …”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Cahn: Ash AI users increase real-world human connections unlike ChatGPT users
“In a space of chat, like chatbots, like people who talk to ChatGPT about their mental health largely over time lose connections with other humans. Like they actually connect with people less than replace it. With Ash, we've shown now Over time, on average, peo…”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Cahn: Therapists actively recommend Ash AI and use it themselves
“We have a huge number of therapists who refer their patients. I mean, we get so many people who use the app who say, I found this because my therapist recommended it. We have so many therapists that tell us they use it because they don't have someone good enou…”
Insight
Cahn: AI therapy must preserve patient autonomy over short-term problem solving
“It is often better. And this is really controversial for a therapist. You know, you go to your therapist and you're like, is my boyfriend toxic? And the therapist might actually have to say, or to realize internally, it is better that this person remain in thi…”