For more than three years, AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude have become widely used as tools for finding information online, in a style that mimics human conversation. More and more, though, people are also turning to artificial intelligence to meet their emotional needs. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44482-026-00025-7" target="_blank">A recent study from the scientific journal Nature found</a> that about 27% of AI users are looking to chatbots for mental health support. We hear about how and why people are relying on AI for mental health, the risks for young people and what experts recommend for guardrails and regulations. Guest:<ul><li><a href="https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/people/jodi-halpern" target="_blank">Jodi Halpern</a>, psychiatrist, professor of bioethics and medical humanities, UC Berkeley</li></ul> Resources:<ul><li><a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/health-advisory-ai-adolescent-well-being" target="_blank">Artificial intelligence and adolescent well-being</a> — American Psychological Association</li><li><a href="https://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank">988 Lifeline</a></li></ul>

UCSD study finds growing distrust in elections

Midday Edition uplifts voices in San Diego with fearless conversations about intriguing issues. Host, Jade Hindmon, cuts through the noise with questions that give listeners a deeper understanding of themselves, people and the community they live in. Guests share diverse perspectives from their expertise and lived experience. In a city and world that's rapidly changing, Jade’s interviews inspire, inform and make you think. New episodes drop Monday - Thursday afternoons.