What is Pi?
We recently wrote about the fact that the unknown startup Inflection AI received the fourth largest funding in the field of AI, in a group with OpenAI, which is the creator of ChatGPT. This news attracted a lot of community attention, not only because it was a name that many did not know exactly what it represented, but also because their business idea obviously carried potential for which most (still) do not see commercial application.
At the core of their product lies an AI therapist, and their technology surpasses GPT-3.5 in performance.
Does such a significant funding of this idea mean that in the future most people will rely on the so-called “personal intelligence”, i.e. an AI assistant who is also a therapist, an interlocutor on any topic, and – since he keeps information about previous conversations with the same user – affective bonding, and even a friendly relationship with Pi will be expected.
What it is really about, and what are the pros and cons of this product of the future, find out below.
Advantages
The idea of a personal therapist using artificial intelligence is not new, but previous feats in this area have not reached an impressive effect. The reason for this is that this type of support needs to be extremely personalized, sophisticated, customizable, and advanced for users who turn to help an AI therapist can really come out of that conversation satisfied.
The most common complaints attributed to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Bard are precisely that they often provide generic content, unnecessarily extensive or so general that it is difficult to apply in individual situations.
This may not be such a problem if you need an answer to a casual question, but if you seek advice for a specific problem in your life, you can quickly lose confidence and patience for a particular AI chatbot and leave the conversation, without any desire to give it another chance.
That’s why Hey Pi is so surprising.
Users most often approach it expecting the same effect they have received from similar products, but very quickly become intrigued and indulge in conversation.
Some of the benefits of using Hey Pi are:
- If the user needs immediate help or conversation, or if he cannot wait to make an appointment with a real therapist, Pi is available 24/7;
- It is more affordable, since it is free (at least at this stage);
- Users can opt for the method of communication that suits them best, from calls to various platforms (Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp…) to SMS and access via the official website;
- People often delay going to therapy because they are afraid to make the first move or are not sure what to expect. Pi can help them overcome this fear and get a picture of what a conversation in therapy looks like;
- Therapeutic conversations, in today’s atmosphere, could be more frequent than meeting once a week or once every two weeks. Pi provides support that is always within reach, and a conversation that can last from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how much the user needs;
- Some find it difficult to talk to their family or surroundings on certain topics, and they need a conversation. Pi is a non-judgmental “interlocutor” who is trained with knowledge of emotional support and psychological methods for numerous situations.
- If a user creates an account, Pi will remember previous conversations even if the user accesses them through another platform. This allows for better conversation and follow-up.
The list doesn’t end there, but these are some of the most important advantages.
Shortcomings
Of course, there are also weak points and possible risks of such services.
Below we list some of the most common concerns:
- It is about sharing highly sensitive, personal information that, if it falls into the wrong hands, can be misused and produce long-term consequences for users;
- Even if companies that have invested in Inflection AI do not sell users’ data, hackers may have a strong interest in attacking their databases, precisely because they will collect information that no one else collects;
- In addition, one of the negative consequences can be the alienation of users, that is, that they talk less with their family and friends, precisely because Pi is a more competent interlocutor than the average person.
Finally, the fact is that this type of service will be increasingly represented for commercial purposes, and it is up to each individual to use it responsibly and carefully share personal information. Although Pi can quickly gain trust, it should not be forgotten that behind it are large tech companies that can come into possession of this data.
In any case, we recommend that you test Hey Pi and form your own opinion about the application of artificial intelligence in the function of a personal therapist.
