EP 587: GPT-5 canceled for being a bad therapist? Why that’s a bad idea

When GPT-5 was released last week, the internets were in an UPROAR. One of the main reasons? With the better model, came a new behavior. And in losing GPT-4o, people feel they lost a friend. Their only friend. Or their therapist. Yikes. For this Hot Take Tuesday, we're gonna say why using AI as a therapist is a really, really bad idea. Newsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletter More on this Episode: Episode Page Join the discussion: Thoughts on this? Join the convo and connect with other AI leaders on LinkedIn. Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineup Website: YourEverydayAI.com Email The Show: info@youreverydayai.com Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn Topics Covered in This Episode: GPT-5 Launch Backlash Explained Users Cancel GPT-5 Over Therapy Role AI Therapy Risks and Dangers Discussed Sycophancy Reduction in GPT-5 Model Addiction to AI Companionship and Validation OpenAI’s Response to AI Therapist Outcry Illinois State Ban on AI Therapy Mental Health Use Cases for ChatGPT Harvard Study: AI’s Top Personal Support Uses OpenAI’s New Guardrails on ChatGPT Therapy Timestamps: 00:00 "AI Therapy: Harm or Help?" 04:44 "OpenAI Model Update Controversy" 09:23 "Customizing ChatGPT: Echo Chamber Risk" 11:38 GPT-5 Update Reduces Sycophancy 16:17 Concerns Over AI Dependency 19:50 AI Addiction and Societal Bias 21:05 AI and Mental Health Concerns 27:01 AI Barred from Therapeutic Roles 29:22 ChatGPT Enhances Safety and Support Measures 34:03 AI Models: Benefits and Misuse 35:17 "Human Judgment Over AI Decisions" Keywords: GPT-5, GPT 4o, OpenAI, AI therapy, AI therapist, large language model, AI mental health support, AI companionship, sycophancy, echo chamber, AI validation, custom instructions, AI addiction, AI model update, user revolt, Illinois AI therapy ban, House Bill 1806, AI chatbots, mental health apps, Sentio survey, Harvard Business Review AI use cases, task completion tuning, AI safety, clinical outcomes, AI reasoning, emotional dependence, AI model personality, emotional validation, AI boundaries, US state AI regulation, AI policymaking, therapy ban, AI in mental health, digital companionship, AI model sycophancy rate, AI in personal life, AI for decision making, AI guardrails, AI model tuning, Sam Altman, Silicon Valley AI labs, AI companion, psychology and AI, online petitions against GPT-5, AI as life coach, accessibility of AI therapy, therapy alternatives, AI-driven self help, digital mental health tools, AI echo chamber risks Send Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner