Israeli attacks kill 110 across Gaza
At least 34 Palestinians were killed while trying to get aid distributed by the US-Israeli Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah.
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Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Should ChatGPT give medical advice? Mental health experts call for regulation
Imagine this: It's late at night, and you're chatting with an AI about your anxiety, racing thoughts, or fears. The conversation starts to get intense — maybe even too intense. Should the AI step in, pause the session, or suggest seeking professional help? Mental health experts say yes, and they are urging AI platforms like ChatGPT to incorporate real-world safeguards that can manage emotionally heavy conversations. A growing number of psychologists and researchers warn that while AI tools can be helpful in moderation, they are gradually taking on roles they were never designed to fill. With rare but serious cases of AI-linked psychosis now being documented, experts say the lack of oversight is a problem, especially as more people turn to chatbots for comfort, therapy-like support, or emotional connection. 'The danger isn't just about (receiving) bad advice. It's that users can become emotionally dependent on AI, treating it like a friend or therapist. In some cases, it even becomes part of a person's distorted thinking. That's where we've seen psychosis emerge," said Dr Randa Al Tahir, a trauma-focused psychologist. Though AI may seem responsive and comforting, it lacks the ability to recognise when a user is spiralling or in crisis. It also doesn't intervene when conversations cross a critical line. Documented cases in Europe and the US show individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities forming deep emotional bonds with chatbots, resulting in delusional beliefs, blurred lines between reality and fiction, and even harmful behaviour. While these are extreme examples, they expose a significant blind spot in how AI is being used. 'AI doesn't have the capacity to flag serious red flags or escalate someone to emergency care yet. But it should,' the Dubai doctor added 'We need built-in measures, whether that's emotional content warnings, timed breaks, or partnerships with international mental health organisations.' To understand how AI itself views the issue, Khaleej Times asked ChatGPT the question: 'Should ChatGPT have regulations when it comes to mental health?' The tool answered with surprising clarity: 'It makes sense that medical experts are calling for regulation. AI like ChatGPT can provide helpful general information, but I'm not a licensed medical professional and shouldn't replace doctors or mental health experts. Misunderstandings, outdated info, or oversimplified answers can lead to harm if someone acts on them without consulting a professional.' It went on to say: 'Mental health advice is nuanced and deeply personal. Even well-trained professionals spend years learning how to assess and respond safely... I believe experts calling for regulation are being responsible.' Dr Nabeel Ashraf, a clinical psychologist in Dubai, echoed this urgency. He called on AI companies and regulators to quickly implement features aimed at reducing risks, especially for vulnerable users. One key recommendation is training chatbots to detect signs of emotional distress by analysing user language in real time. 'There are patterns that can indicate when someone is spiralling, experiencing delusions, or showing signs of crisis. The AI should be able to respond appropriately,' he said. In such cases, the chatbot should refer users to verified support services, such as mental health hotlines or licensed therapists. 'It's not enough to say 'I'm sorry you feel that way.' If there's a red flag, there should be a next step.' 'There's no shame in using AI for light advice or to feel heard,' he added. 'But without real limits, these tools can cause more harm than good, especially to someone already struggling.'chat
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Detained Gaza doctor Abu Safiya in critical condition, lawyer says
The health of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital, has severely deteriorated in Israeli detention in Israel's infamous Ofer prison, his lawyer said in a statement on social media. Israeli forces arrested Abu Safia on 27 December from the hospital in Beit Lahia in north Gaza, which was left out of service following Israeli attacks. All medical staff, patients, and their relatives were taken out of the hospital at gunpoint, forced to strip down to their underwear. Remaining in solitary confinement, Abu Safiya has lost more than 40kg (88 pounds) since his arrest and was reportedly beaten on 24 June, his lawyer said. He was denied medical care despite requesting treatment for injuries to his ribs, face and back, as well as for irregular cardiology test results. Abu Safiya has been categorised as an "unlawful combatant" under Israel - despite him being a civilian doctor, which means there is no formal indictment against him. (Instagram/
Dubai Eye
11 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Israeli missile hits Gaza children collecting water, IDF blames malfunction
At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in central Gaza on Sunday, local officials said, in an Israeli missile strike which the military said missed its intended target. The Israeli military said it had intended to hit a militant in the area but that a malfunction had caused the missile to fall "dozens of metres from the target". "The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians," it said in a statement, adding that the incident was under review. The strike hit a water distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp, killing six children and injuring 17 others, said Ahmed Abu Saifan, an emergency physician at Al-Awda Hospital. Water shortages in Gaza have worsened sharply in recent weeks, with fuel shortages causing desalination and sanitation facilities to close, making people dependent on collection centres where they can fill up their plastic containers. In another attack, Palestinian media reported that a prominent hospital consultant was among 12 people killed by an Israeli strike mid-morning on a busy market in Gaza City. Gaza's health ministry said on Sunday that more than 58,000 people had been killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, with 139 people added to the death toll over the past 24 hours. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its tally, but says over half of those killed are women and children. TALKS BLOCKED Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire appeared to be deadlocked, with the two sides divided over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources said at the weekend. The indirect talks over a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire were continuing in Doha, but optimism that surfaced last week of a possible deal has largely faded, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages there are believed to still be alive. Israel's campaign against Hamas has displaced almost the entire population of more than 2 million people, but Gazans say nowhere is safe in the coastal enclave. Early on Sunday, a missile hit a house in Gaza City where a family had moved to after receiving an evacuation order from their home in the southern outskirts.
