# The Mental Health System Is Failing—Can AI Do Better? | Alison Darcy (Ep. 18)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-with-machines-7014298/the-mental-health-system-is-failing-can-ai-do-better-alison-darcy-ep-18
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-with-machines-7014298/the-mental-health-system-is-failing-can-ai-do-better-alison-darcy-ep-18.md
Podcast: [Life with Machines](https://stenobird.com/podcast/life-with-machines-7014298)
Published: 2025-04-29T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lifewithmachines.media/
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/FTTLI6507631013.mp3?updated=1747081092
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/life-with-machines-7014298/episodes/the-mental-health-system-is-failing-can-ai-do-better-alison-darcy-ep-18
Duration seconds: 4005

## Resource

In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with psychologist and entrepreneur Alison Darcy, who left academia to build a mental health chatbot that actually gets you. They break down why our mental health system is failing, how a talking robot might succeed where traditional therapy falls short, and what millions of late-night conversations with Woebot reveal about loneliness, generational struggles, and a healthcare system that’s resistant to change. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, jumps in with a tough question about whether AI will be used to cut corners rather than care for people. Watch now for a conversation that's raw, urgent, and unexpectedly full of hope. ------------ THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNERS The series is powered by Lenovo Notion Mail: Get it for free right now at Notion CONNECT WITH US Watch this episode on Youtube! Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action! ------------ Follow us! Instagram TikTok Threads LinkedIn Work with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.media Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media Write to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media ------------ Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland Video Editor: Junior Real Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute Theme Music: Andy Clausen Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production Sponsored by Lenovo #MentalHealth #AItherapy #FutureOfTherapy #MentalHealthCrisis #Chatbots #HealingWithAI #TechForGood #MentalHealthAwareness #AIinHealthcare #LifeWithMachines

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## Transcript

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