As the applications of AI continue to touch myriad spheres of our lives, healthcare is often discussed as the one with perhaps the greatest benefit to humanity. In Pakistan, the intersection of health and AI has gotten several groups excited and among the applications, one that is often discussed is in the area of mental health.

There are startups that are exploring the possibilities of improved diagnosis and efficient care in an area that has largely been overlooked in the national health landscape. Most of these AI-mental health startups pitch their idea as a game changer for socio-economically disadvantaged and underserved communities.

While there are many important and urgent reasons to focus on mental health, including limited awareness, stigma and few trained and licensed providers, there are also deeply disturbing trends in the AI-health space that are likely to harm countless vulnerable persons who have limited resources, are marginalised due to their social status and are unlikely to find justice if something goes wrong.

As I........

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