Conversational AI & Mental Health: Opportunities and Challenges

Monday, December 8, 2025, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Duane J. Roth Auditorium, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego, CA


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.50 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (4.50 hours)

As large language models and other conversational AI systems increasingly serve as unguided or self-directed tools for wellness and emotional support, this speaker series will examine both their promise and their risks. The workshop will bring together experts from multiple disciplines to explore the ethical, social, and practical implications of using generative AI for mental health support without the involvement of a health professional.

To register:
https://ConversationalAIforSupport.eventbrite.com

Main Contact
Kimberly Center
[email protected]
(858) 622-1771

1. Discuss how generative AI tools are being used by individuals for companionship and mental health support
2. Identify recent trends of generative AI tools being used to promote wellness and mental health
3. Assess the social and relational implications of direct-to-consumer conversational AI use for mental health support, including unintended or adverse consequences
4. Provide examples of rigorous research methods and explain why they are needed to assess impacts in the general population, and specific (e.g., youth/patient/client) populations

Accommodations: We are committed to ensuring that our programs are accessible to all individuals. For general information or to request reasonable accommodations, please contact [email protected] at your earliest convenience.

All in-person events are wheelchair accessible.  Service animals specifically trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome. No other animals, including pets, therapy animals, or emotional support animals, are allowed.

Cultural & Linguistic Competency and Implicit Bias: Continuing medical education (CME) providers are required by state Assembly Bills 1195 and 241, and the standards created by the California Medical Association (CMA), to include components that address cultural and linguistic competency and implicit bias in CME activities. The planners and presenters of this activity has been asked to provide meaningful consideration of these standards in the selection and presentation of content.  Additional information and resources are available on the UC San Diego CME website. 

Audio / Video Consent: This event may be audio and/or video recorded for future use or distribution. For virtual events, any engagement during the presentation (audio, video, chat, Q&A submission, etc.) will be captured and included. Participant microphones and cameras are generally disabled by default, and can always be manually disabled by participant. Depending on the type of event, publication of the recordings might be on a publicly available website or on an access-restricted site. By registering for this event, you give UC San Diego the right to use your name, voice, image, written text, or video footage without compensation and waive the right to inspect or approve any document in which these appear.

Covid-19 Health & Safety: We follow state and local guidelines and protocols related to COVID-19 safety measures. At this time, no restrictions are in place for the State of California and San Diego County.  We encourage each attendee to decide what works for them and wear a face mask if that is their preferred choice.  We reserve the right to update COVID related expectations at any time, should local and state guidelines change and prevailing COVID rates increase.

Duane J. Roth Auditorium at Sanford Institute for Regenerative Medicine
2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Dr. San Diego, CA 92037

All persons in a position to control the content of accredited education must disclose all financial relationships held with ineligible companies, prior to assuming their role in the accredited activity. Those relationships deemed relevant to the education, are mitigated prior to the activity.

CME staff, meeting planners, peer reviewers, editorial staff, and CME committee reviewers, do not have any relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

The UC San Diego School of Medicine adheres to the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.