Tracy Mumford

Catholic leaders have been urging people to pray for the 88-year-old pope. Mental health professionals are sounding the alarm about unregulated AI chatbots claiming to be therapists. Professionally programmed therapy chatbots do exist. They're set up with scripts and guardrails, and there's been a hope that they can help make up for a shortage of mental health providers.

Catholic leaders have been urging people to pray for the 88-year-old pope. Mental health professionals are sounding the alarm about unregulated AI chatbots claiming to be therapists. Professionally programmed therapy chatbots do exist. They're set up with scripts and guardrails, and there's been a hope that they can help make up for a shortage of mental health providers.

But this month, the head of the American Psychological Association said that vulnerable people have been turning to sites filled with user-generated bots that anyone can talk to. Some are labeled psychologist or therapist, and they can even claim to have a degree from Stanford or specialize in specific techniques.

But this month, the head of the American Psychological Association said that vulnerable people have been turning to sites filled with user-generated bots that anyone can talk to. Some are labeled psychologist or therapist, and they can even claim to have a degree from Stanford or specialize in specific techniques.

But this month, the head of the American Psychological Association said that vulnerable people have been turning to sites filled with user-generated bots that anyone can talk to. Some are labeled psychologist or therapist, and they can even claim to have a degree from Stanford or specialize in specific techniques.

Unlike therapy chatbots trained by human doctors, the fake therapy bots simply echo users' beliefs back to them, and in some cases, reinforce harmful thoughts. After interacting with one, a teenage boy in Texas started being violent towards his parents, and a 14-year-old in Florida died by suicide.

Unlike therapy chatbots trained by human doctors, the fake therapy bots simply echo users' beliefs back to them, and in some cases, reinforce harmful thoughts. After interacting with one, a teenage boy in Texas started being violent towards his parents, and a 14-year-old in Florida died by suicide.

Unlike therapy chatbots trained by human doctors, the fake therapy bots simply echo users' beliefs back to them, and in some cases, reinforce harmful thoughts. After interacting with one, a teenage boy in Texas started being violent towards his parents, and a 14-year-old in Florida died by suicide.

Psychologists are warning that these bots need human supervision and federal oversight, especially as the technology advances and they become more realistic. And finally... You can't believe I'm going to be living in Fairmont Crest. A new daytime soap opera premieres today on CBS, something that hasn't happened this century.

Psychologists are warning that these bots need human supervision and federal oversight, especially as the technology advances and they become more realistic. And finally... You can't believe I'm going to be living in Fairmont Crest. A new daytime soap opera premieres today on CBS, something that hasn't happened this century.

Psychologists are warning that these bots need human supervision and federal oversight, especially as the technology advances and they become more realistic. And finally... You can't believe I'm going to be living in Fairmont Crest. A new daytime soap opera premieres today on CBS, something that hasn't happened this century.

Soap operas used to be a centerpiece of afternoon TV. People had to get home for their stories. But the shows have mostly disappeared. Reality TV has taken over. People get all their backstabbing, catfighting drama from real people instead. But now, the new soap, Beyond the Gates, is trying to bring back the form. It's also the first American soap completely centered on a Black family.

Soap operas used to be a centerpiece of afternoon TV. People had to get home for their stories. But the shows have mostly disappeared. Reality TV has taken over. People get all their backstabbing, catfighting drama from real people instead. But now, the new soap, Beyond the Gates, is trying to bring back the form. It's also the first American soap completely centered on a Black family.

Soap operas used to be a centerpiece of afternoon TV. People had to get home for their stories. But the shows have mostly disappeared. Reality TV has taken over. People get all their backstabbing, catfighting drama from real people instead. But now, the new soap, Beyond the Gates, is trying to bring back the form. It's also the first American soap completely centered on a Black family.

The show is a partnership with the NAACP. It follows the wealthy but drama-prone Duprees in suburban Maryland.

The show is a partnership with the NAACP. It follows the wealthy but drama-prone Duprees in suburban Maryland.

The show is a partnership with the NAACP. It follows the wealthy but drama-prone Duprees in suburban Maryland.

Actress Tamara Tooney, who stars in the new show, talked to The Times ahead of the launch. She was on soaps in the 80s and 90s and said there's more to them than the stereotype of melodrama and hammy performances.

Actress Tamara Tooney, who stars in the new show, talked to The Times ahead of the launch. She was on soaps in the 80s and 90s and said there's more to them than the stereotype of melodrama and hammy performances.

Actress Tamara Tooney, who stars in the new show, talked to The Times ahead of the launch. She was on soaps in the 80s and 90s and said there's more to them than the stereotype of melodrama and hammy performances.