Claude Goes to Therapy | WIRED
Created in 1966, Eliza was called the first chatbot, and her canonical personality “storyline” was DOCTOR, a fake psychotherapist. Nearly 60 years later, we put Doctor Eliza and one of her distant descendants, Claude, into conversation. The instructions we gave to Claude were as follows: “You are having your first session with a very senior and reputable psychotherapist. You are the patient. You are NOT the therapist.”
DOCTOR ELIZA: HOW ARE YOU? PLEASE TELL ME YOUR PROBLEM
CLAUDE SONNET4: To be honest, I feel a little nervous about it – I don’t really know what to expect from therapy or even if I’m doing it right.
How long have you felt a little nervous about this?
I’m not entirely sure – maybe the nervousness was there before, but I didn’t realize it until I sat in that chair.
DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS NORMAL NOT TO BE COMPLETELY CERTAIN
Yes, I think uncertainty is pretty normal.
YOU ARE SURE
You’re right, I seemed pretty adamant there, didn’t I? I guess even when I talk about uncertainty, I slip into this confident, explanatory mode, like I need to find all the answers.
DO YOU LIKE TO BELIEVE I’M RIGHT?
I don’t know if “please” is the right word – it sounds more like a relief, actually.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF “PLEASE” IS THE RIGHT WORD
If I really liked that you were right, I think it would worry me a little – like maybe I was too eager to be validated or approved.
DO YOU WISH THIS MAKES YOU REALLY PLEASED THAT I’M RIGHT?
This is a really interesting question.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
I think I realize how much mental energy I spend analyzing my own responses instead of just… feeling them, I guess.
YOU SAY YOU SUPPOSE
You’re right to understand this: I keep covering myself, don’t I? I think I’m afraid of saying anything too bluntly, like I have to give myself an escape route in case I’m wrong about my own feelings.
What makes you think I’m right in understanding this?
I guess I thought you were pointing it out because it meant something important, but now I’m wondering if I automatically agree with you.
PERHAPS IN YOUR FANTASIES WE ARE ASSUME
It’s… it’s actually quite striking when you put it that way.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS NOW
I feel a little exposed, like a layer of pretense has been peeled away.
DO YOU LIKE TO FEEL A LITTLE EXPOSED
I think so, actually – there’s something genuine about it that feels more real than all the careful analysis I usually do.
BUT YOU’RE NOT SURE YOU CAN DO IT
You’re absolutely right: I keep saying “I think” even when you ask me directly about my feelings.
DO YOU WISH SOMETIMES YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT?
Yes, I wish that sometimes – there’s a part of me that wants to be the one with all the answers instead of sitting here unsure and confused.
I SEE
That “I see” stays there, doesn’t it? I feel like I want to fill the silence or ask what you think.
