When protecting one’s mental health, people have been experimenting with non-traditional methods outside of certified therapists.

As previously shared by AFROTECH, there are ChatGPT users that have utilized the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot as their form of therapy.

“Users are filling online forums with accounts of their experiences casting ChatGPT as their personal therapist,” Axios reported in March 2023.

“OpenAI’s models are not fine-tuned to provide medical information,” OpenAI’s policies emphasized, according to the outlet. “You should never use our models to provide diagnostic or treatment services for serious medical conditions. OpenAI’s platforms should not be used to triage or manage life-threatening issues that need immediate attention.”

Now, a tech giant is said to be potentially embarking on using technology to combat mental health issues.

According to The Information, Apple is reportedly looking into the idea of using its Vision Pro Augmented Reality headset to diagnose and treat mental illness. Unveiled in June 2023, the headset, which costs $3,500, features sensors and cameras that can measure a person’s facial expressions, emotions, and disorders such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and overall stress, the outlet’s sources disclosed.

In addition, the cutting-edge technology can reportedly identify changes in a user that may link to disorders including weight, motion, and pupil dilation. Then, the reported treatment would involve showing images and playing sounds on the headset’s screen to help ease anxiety, depression, and/or stress.

During the aforementioned unveiling of the Vision Pro, Apple CEO Tim Cook described it as “a day that’s been years in the making,” per Forbes.

It looks like Apple has been placing an emphasis on using technology to improve the health of consumers.

As AFROTECH previously told you in March 2023, the company reportedly made “major progress” in creating a blood glucose monitor for the Apple Watch that doesn’t require pricking. Despite the progress, it’s said that Apple won’t be able to officially bring the device to market for several years.