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4.Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the field of science concerned with the study and design of intelligent machines. For people unfamiliar with AI, the thought of intelligent machines may at first conjure images of charismatic human-like computers or robots, such as those depicted in science fiction. Others may think of AI technology as mysterious computers confined to research laboratories or as a technological achievement that will occur at some far off time in the future. Popular media reports of the use of aerial surveillance drones, driverless cars, or the possible perils of emerging super-intelligent machines have perhaps increased some general awareness of the topic.

AI technologies and techniques are in fact already at work all around us, although often behind the scenes. Many applications of AI technologies and techniques have become so commonplace that we may no longer consider those applications as involving AI. For example, AI technology is used for predicting weather patterns, logistics planning, manufacturing, and finance functions (e.g., banking and monitoring and trading stocks). AI technology is also deployed in automobiles, aircraft guidance systems, smart mobile devices (e.g., voice recognition software such as Apple’s Siri), Internet web browsers, and a plethora of other practical everyday functions. AI technologies and techniques enable us to solve problems and perform tasks in more reliable, efficient, and effective ways than were possible without them.

The behavioral and mental healthcare fields are also benefiting from advancements in AI. For example, computing methods for learning, understanding, and reasoning can assist healthcare professionals with clinical decision-making, testing, diagnostics, and care management. AI technologies and techniques can advance self-care tools to improve the lives of people, such as interactive mobile health applications (apps) that learn the patterns and preferences of users. AI is improving public health by assisting with the detection of health risks and informing interventions. Another example is the use of artificially intelligent virtual humans that can interact with care seekers and provide treatment recommendations. As each chapter of this book will demonstrate, the opportunities to apply AI technologies and techniques to behavioral and mental healthcare tasks abound.

The purpose of this introductory chapter is to provide basic background and context for the subsequent chapters of this book. I first provide an overview of essential AI concepts and technologies with emphasis on their relevance for behavioral and mental health care. Although the review is not by any means exhaustive, it will provide readers who are new to AI with basic foundational information. I also highlight recent technological developments in order to demonstrate emerging capabilities and to provide a glimpse of innovations on the horizon. I then discuss the many practical benefits that AI brings to behavioral and mental health care along with some additional considerations.