JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Recent developments in artificial intelligence technologies have come up to a point where machine learning algorithms can infer mental status based on someone's photos and texts posted on social media. More than that, these algorithms are able to predict, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, future mental illness. They potentially represent an important advance in mental healthcare for preventive and early diagnosis initiatives, and for aiding professionals in the follow-up and prognosing of their patients. However, important issues call for major caution in the use of such technologies, namely privacy and the stigma related to mental disorders. In this article we discuss the bioethical implications of using such technologies to diagnose and to predict future mental illness, given the current scenario of swiftly growing technologies to analyze human language, and the online availability of personal information given by social media. We also suggest future directions to be taken to minimize the misuse of such important technologies.