The oracle of Delphi 2.0: considering artificial intelligence as a challenging tool for the treatment of eating disorders

Abstract

In this editorial, we discuss how the diffusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools—such as the recently available conversational AIs—could impact and transform eating disorders (EDs) care. We try to envision the possible use of AI by individuals affected by EDs and by clinicians, in terms of prevention, support to treatment, and development of new and actually personalized treatment strategies. We then focus on how the introduction of AI into psychotherapy could either represent an element of disruption for the therapeutical relationship or be positively and creatively integrated into session and inter-sessional dynamics. As technological advancements open scenarios where anyone could have access to a personal and all-knowing “oracle”, the ability to formulate questions, individuals’ experiences, and the scientific rigor with which clinicians study them must remain at the center of our work. Ethical and legal issues about the use of AI are also considered.

Examining the role of artificial intelligence to advance knowledge and address barriers to research in eating disorders

“…As EHR companies seek to expand and leverage AI technologies, questions that span ED prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and likely many other areas of health, will need to be explored fully to understand the impact of advancement and associated risks (Epic). Although AI holds promise for furthering knowledge and advancing therapeutic offerings, consideration of a variety of key principles is required to ensure the technologies are used in a manner that serves to promote equity, relies on evidence, incorporates patient care variables, and addresses safety, privacy, and ethical concerns (Abbate-Daga et al, 2023;Torous et al, 2023). As it stands, technology is advancing at a pace in which necessary safeguards in health care have not uniformly caught up.…”

“…With time, AI-delivered therapies will undoubtedly become more freely accessible which will provide allowances to bypass humanbased therapeutic processes. In these circumstances, individuals will decide how they will use freely available AI, resulting in a myriad of scenarios that will influence the patient's recovery journey (Abbate-Daga et al, 2023) As boundaries relating to clinical treatments and individually sought web-based offerings become blurred, issues relating to access, as well as ethical considerations relating to treatment decisions, require more research.…”

Ethical Challenges in AI Approaches to Eating Disorders

“…Likewise, from a technical perspective, there is a rapid expansion of chatbots. With the recent advances in related large language models such as ChatGPT (OpenAI), chatbots are more accessible today than ever before [ 9 ]. However, easy accessibility does not preclude risk.…”

Artificial intelligence and eating disorders: a commentary

“…The editorial “The Oracle of Delphi 2.0: Considering Artificial Intelligence as a Challenging Tool for the Treatment of Eating Disorders” [ 5 ] put together the result of an experiment and reflection on artificial intelligence (AI) and its possible applications.…”

“…As to the study, prevention, and treatment of EDs, some possible uses and risks of AI are indicated by the editorial and some recent articles [ 5 – 11 ] (Table 1 ). They also apply to other fields of medicine [ 12 ].…”