genuinely interesting conversation regarding AI therapists on tonight’s stream of consciousness stream

assuming a high enough level of competence, would you be open to having an AI therapist for yourself? or is a human connection too important?

I would prefer it. Not for talk therapy, which is bogus, but for a well-structured cognitive behavioral program. The machine can build and maintain any pseudo-skinner-box better than their human counterpart, no doubt.

If it's conversational, it's unproductive. IE, does not produce the desired therapeutic result. Language is not the best way to reprogram a brain, especially if it's unstructured gibbering.

Is there lit to support this? Or your experience?

I should also say that I would never seriously make this claim based on personal experience. Anecdotal evidence sucks.

Both. There are well-supported longitudinal studies available. Amusingly, I remember the patient outcomes being worse than baseline, if slightly. They came in for help and left slightly worse (as measured). Brains be messin.