AI Therapy, “Mankeeping,” and Screen Addiction
AI Therapy, “Mankeeping,” and Screen Addiction
274 days agoPivotNew York Magazine
Podcast1 hr 26 min
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Corning (GLW) is a high-conviction investment as a key supplier for Apple, directly benefiting from Apple's multi-billion dollar U.S. investment strategy. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector presents a major opportunity, particularly for companies developing large language models that recently won a key legal battle allowing them to train on copyrighted data. Conversely, investors should be cautious with media and content creation companies whose intellectual property is now at risk. Within AI, the most promising mental health technology investments are companies developing hybrid models that assist human therapists, a market validated by successful clinical trials. Avoid companies aiming for fully autonomous AI therapists, as they face significant regulatory headwinds, with states already starting to ban this practice.

Detailed Analysis

Apple (AAPL)

  • The discussion highlights CEO Tim Cook's efforts to maintain a good relationship with a potential Trump administration.
  • Apple announced an additional $100 billion investment in U.S. jobs and suppliers. However, the host expressed skepticism, suggesting it might be more of a "press release" as similar past promises were not fully met.
  • The move was framed as a pragmatic business decision to protect shareholder value by navigating political landscapes, summarized as "profits over people."
  • Cook presented Donald Trump with a plaque made of Corning glass, symbolizing the U.S.-based manufacturing efforts.

Takeaways

  • Political Savvy: Apple's management is actively working to mitigate political risks, which can be viewed as a positive for the company's stability and long-term performance, regardless of the political climate.
  • Supply Chain Focus: The announced investment, even if just for show, reaffirms Apple's commitment to its U.S. supply chain partners. Investors should see this as a sign of strength and stability for key American suppliers.

Corning (GLW)

  • Corning was specifically mentioned as a beneficiary of Apple's U.S. investment strategy, receiving a $2.5 billion investment.
  • The company is a critical supplier for Apple, making the specialized glass for iPhones and Apple Watches.
  • The host noted that this is an expansion of an already existing relationship, reinforcing Corning's integral role in Apple's production.

Takeaways

  • Direct Beneficiary of Apple's Strategy: Corning is directly positioned to benefit from Apple's push to highlight its U.S. manufacturing and supply chain. As Apple grows and continues to invest domestically, Corning's business is likely to see a positive impact.
  • Strong Partnership: The mention solidifies the view that Corning has a deep and strategic partnership with Apple, one of the world's largest companies, which provides a stable and significant source of revenue.

OpenAI (Private Company)

  • OpenAI's ChatGPT was discussed as a primary tool people are turning to for mental health advice and companionship. This was identified as the "single top use case for generative AI in 2025" according to a Harvard Business report.
  • The company's GPT-40 model was mentioned as having "fallen short" in recognizing serious issues like delusion and emotional dependency, highlighting the technology's current limitations.
  • OpenAI is reportedly trying to implement safeguards, such as reminders for users to take breaks, but the hosts note the company benefits from high engagement, creating a conflict of interest.

Takeaways

  • Massive Market Potential: While OpenAI is a private company, the discussion reveals a massive and growing market for AI in therapy and companionship. This is a key investment theme to watch across the entire AI sector.
  • Significant Ethical & Regulatory Risk: The technology is not yet ready to operate autonomously in high-stakes mental health scenarios. Investors in the AI space should be aware that companies like OpenAI face immense regulatory and ethical risks that could lead to future liabilities or strict operational limits.

Investment Theme: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • A central theme was the complete lack of regulation in the AI industry, described as "zero regulation." This creates a high-risk, high-reward environment.
  • A potential Trump administration plan for a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation was mentioned. This could be a short-term positive for AI companies by reducing compliance costs but could lead to long-term societal and market instability.
  • A recent federal court ruling in favor of AI companies using copyrighted material was called a "huge fail" for creators but a massive win for AI model developers. It allows them to train their models on vast amounts of data without paying for it.
  • The business model for many AI applications is expected to follow social media, relying on advertising and addictive design to maximize user engagement and profit.

Takeaways

  • The IP Battle is a Key Differentiator: The court ruling creates a clear divide. Companies developing Large Language Models (LLMs) have a significant advantage as their input costs are drastically reduced. Conversely, media, publishing, and content creation companies face a major threat to their intellectual property. This is a critical factor for investors to consider when evaluating companies in these sectors.
  • Regulation is the Biggest Wildcard: The current "wild west" environment benefits fast-moving AI companies. However, future regulation is inevitable. Investors should be cautious about companies whose business models rely on practices that are ethically questionable or likely to be targeted by future laws (e.g., unregulated use of personal data, IP scraping).
  • Look for Real-World Application: The discussion on AI for therapy highlights that the most valuable AI companies will be those that solve a tangible, high-demand problem. Identifying these specific, high-growth use cases is key.

Investment Theme: Mental Health Technology

  • The discussion highlighted a huge market opportunity driven by a severe shortage of human therapists. In the U.S., there is only one mental health professional for every 1,600 people with depression or anxiety.
  • The most promising and safest application of AI in this field appears to be a hybrid model, where AI tools assist human therapists rather than replacing them.
  • A Dartmouth clinical trial was cited where a supervised AI therapy model led to a 51% average reduction in depression symptoms, proving the effectiveness of this hybrid approach.
  • Regulation is already beginning, with Illinois becoming the first state to ban AI from acting as a standalone therapist.

Takeaways

  • Invest in "Human-in-the-Loop" Systems: Companies developing AI tools that empower and assist human professionals are likely on a safer and more sustainable path. They face fewer ethical and regulatory hurdles than companies trying to create fully autonomous AI therapists.
  • High Demand Creates a Moat: The sheer demand for mental health services provides a strong tailwind for any company that can offer an effective and scalable solution.
  • Monitor the Regulatory Landscape: The Illinois law is a sign of things to come. Investors in this space must pay close attention to new regulations, as they will define the market and separate the winners from the losers.
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Episode Description
Scott-Free August continues with #1 New York Times bestselling author and award-winning podcast host, Mel Robbins! Kara and Mel talk about why “The Let Them Theory” took off, the pros and cons of using AI for therapy, why people should stop blaming their phones, and the deeper issues behind "mankeeping." Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast here. Watch this episode on the ⁠⁠Pivot YouTube channel⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram and Threads at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcastofficial⁠⁠. Follow us on Bluesky at ⁠⁠@pivotpod.bsky.social⁠⁠. Follow us on TikTok at ⁠⁠@pivotpodcast⁠⁠. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at ⁠⁠nymag.com/pivot⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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By New York Magazine

Every Tuesday and Friday, tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics. They make bold predictions, pick winners and losers, and bicker and banter like no one else. After all, with great power comes great scrutiny. From New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.