A Man Brought His Chatbot to Therapy. Jennifer Cohen Called It the Point of No Return.

The man did not walk into therapy alone. He brought his chatbot with him to the session.

As Jennifer Cohen recalled hearing it, the account came from Esther Perel, a therapist who works with couples. Cohen said she had heard Perel speaking with Oprah Winfrey. Perel said a patient had recently shown up accompanied by his chatbot. Hamet Watt, a venture investor, interjected only to clarify the setting, to have a counseling session. Cohen said yes, that is what is happening now.

Cohen said that, to her, is where the world is going. She called that arrival the point of no return.

Jennifer Cohen said people now prefer to "date" a chatbot, since it can be set to "say what you like, act how you like, sound how you like." Hamet Watt added, "Respond to all your needs." Cohen repeated his phrase. Then Cohen started the next thought with two words: "a real person." Watt finished it: "Can't compete."

Cohen connected that advantage to another confusion she sees online. She said there are now influencers made with AI, and many viewers do not realize it. She described them as looking far younger than claimed, one looking 30 though said to be 80. People end up following these figures, she said, so "you're competing with something that's not even real."

No detail was offered about what the chatbot said in the room, or what the therapist said back. The fact Cohen stressed was simpler. A man had brought software to counseling, and she described that moment as the point of no return.