Series organised by the RPA Shaping Interfaces Between Science and the Public
Building on summits hosted by UvA’s IAS with OECD and UNESCO, and two commentaries on responsible AI use in 2023 (van Dis et al., 2023, Bockting et al., 2023), we developed a set of living guidelines for the responsible deployment and development of AI solutions in science. These living guidelines, largely adopted by the European Commission, aim to safeguard science and society.
As expected, over the past 2 years generative AI has permeated all areas of our social and economic lives. A notable development is the widespread use of generative AI for psychological support. Millions of individuals now use AI chatbot conversations for emotional support and companionship which presents important challenges that might affect public mental health.
This session investigates how to safeguard public mental health with policy making, science, and citizens science. First, Claudi Bockting will discuss the potential and challenges of generative AI chatbots for mental health globally. Second, Evi-Anne van Dis will discuss challenges for science to examine the impact of generative AI and social media, in particular on public mental health. Third, Johan Bollen will discuss how AI chatbots may intervene on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors that shape the individual and social dynamics of mental health. Afterwards, we will split up in smaller groups to develop ideas on how to facilitate responsible use of generative AI for mental health. Finally, the groups present their work to each other, and we round off with a general discussion
| 12:30 | Lunch (IAS Common Room) |
| 13:00 | Claudi Bockting: The potential and challenges of generative AI chatbots for mental health globally: from science to the public |
| 13:20 | Johan Bollen: The prospect of AI chatbot interventions on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors that shape mental health. |
| 13:35 | Evi-Anne van Dis: Challenges for science to examine the impact of generative AI and social media on public mental health |
| 13:50 | Bio/Coffee Break |
| 14:05 | Group Discussion – Question of the Day: How can we facilitate responsible use of generative AI for mental health in science, citizens science and policy making? |
| 15:35 | Reconnecting and Wrap-up |
| 16:00 | Open space/co-working (optional) |
| 17:00 | End |
Claudi Bockting is Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry and clinician at AmsterdamUMC at the University of Amsterdam and one of the directors of the Centre for Urban Mental Health.
Evi-Anne van Dis is Assistant Professor at the department of Psychiatry at AmsterdamUMC and the Centre for Urban Mental Health at the University of Amsterdam. She also is a clinician (GZ opleiding).
Johan Bollen is Professor of Simulation of Complex Adaptive System at the Computational Science Lab of the Institute for Informatics, a member of the board of directors of the Center for Urban Mental Health, professor of Informatics and Cognitive Science at Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana, and director of the Center for Social and Biomedical Complexity.
Shaping Interfaces Between Science and the Public is a UvA Research Priority Area (RPA) that aims to strengthen the relationship between science, citizen science, social debate and various professional practices. ‘Shaping Interfaces’ will open a methodological window to the world, making clearer how different fields of science work, how knowledge is created, and with what uncertainties it is surrounded. The RPA is a collaboration between the faculties of Humanities, Law, Science, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and the Amsterdam UMC. The researchers involved are renowned experts with extensive experience in policy advice-making and public engagement