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.