AI usage trends show youth seeking personal advice and researchers testing mental health detection

New data from the eSafety Commissioner reveals that 54% of Australian children and teenagers use artificial intelligence for personal and social reasons. A survey of 1,950 Australians aged 10 to 17 found that 78% had used an AI assistant, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. While many use these tools for practical tasks like writing and information seeking, a significant portion uses them for intimate purposes. Specifically, 33% sought advice on physical health, 33% asked for situational guidance, and 20% consulted AI regarding mental health and wellbeing. Additionally, 10% of teens used AI companions for role-play, including romantic simulations.

In a separate study, researchers from Victoria University investigated using AI to detect mental health indicators within online conversations. By analyzing approximately one million health-related Reddit threads, the team used machine-learning tools, including PaLM 2 and AutoML, to identify patterns in how people describe emotional struggles. The research aimed to move beyond simple keyword searches to understand the life circumstances, such as financial pressure or loneliness, that contribute to distress. The study utilized expert classifications from psychiatrists to train and evaluate the accuracy of the AI models.