UN Speech on AI and Mental Health: Full Transcript
- Suhani Gupta
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
My name is Suhani Gupta, and I am the Founder of the Neuro Health Alliance, a nonprofit focused on the connection between artificial intelligence and mental health. AI is not just transforming industries. It is influencing human cognition, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being in ways that most people do not fully understand.
AI is not inherently good or bad, but it is powerful. The way it interacts with the brain has consequences that extend beyond convenience. If we do not learn to engage with AI in a way that protects mental health, we will find ourselves dependent on it in ways we never intended.
At the Neuro Health Alliance, we focus on the relationship between AI and mental health. Our mission is simple. Empower minds, transform lives.
We focus on three key areas.
Education. Teaching people how AI affects the brain.
Advocacy. Working with schools and policymakers to develop AI practices that promote well-being.
Research. Studying how AI interacts with cognition, emotional regulation, and neurological health.
AI is not just a technology that operates in the background of our lives.
The brain is always adapting. It strengthens neural pathways based on how often they are used. This ability, called neuroplasticity, allows us to learn, solve problems, and develop skills over time.
AI is changing the way we engage with information.
A 2023 study from Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon University found that nearly half of professionals who frequently relied on AI reported a decline in their ability to solve complex problems. The issue is not that AI makes people less intelligent. It is that when the brain is no longer required to think deeply, it rewires itself to expect shortcuts.
This is the same reason that people who rely too much on GPS struggle with navigation, or why students who use auto-complete tools too often may have trouble forming original sentences. The brain is not weakening. It is simply adapting to reduced cognitive effort.
If this becomes normalized, future generations may struggle with analytical thinking, decision-making, and creativity. AI is an incredible tool, but without intentional engagement, it can erode the very skills that define human intelligence.
Amygdala Overdrive and Emotional Responses
AI-driven platforms are designed to capture attention, and one of the most effective ways to do that is by triggering emotional arousal. The amygdala, which processes fear, stress, and excitement, plays a key role in survival. When activated, it increases alertness and prioritizes emotionally charged information.
AI takes advantage of this through doomscrolling, misinformation, and algorithmic bias, in addition to AI-generated content itself. Doomscrolling refers to the compulsive consumption of negative news and content. AI curates what we see based on engagement patterns, meaning that if someone interacts with stressful or alarming content, AI will show them more of it. This creates an endless cycle where users become trapped in negative content loops.
Misinformation spreads faster than factual information because emotionally charged content is more engaging. This is why conspiracy theories, extreme political takes, and shocking headlines dominate online spaces. The more time users spend engaging with this type of content, the more AI reinforces it, leading to elevated stress, increased anxiety, and heightened distrust.
Identity and Psychological Disorientation
AI is not just influencing how we feel. It is changing how we see ourselves. Deepfake technology, AI-generated influencers, and hyper-personalized content are shaping perceptions of reality and identity in ways never seen before.
Deepfakes are particularly dangerous because they do not just distort perception. They fabricate reality. Unlike traditional media, which could be fact-checked, deepfake videos and AI-generated voices can create entirely false narratives that are nearly impossible to distinguish from reality.
This is not just a concern for public figures or misinformation campaigns. The ability to alter history, manipulate personal identities, and erase or invent events unlocks ethical concerns that no other technology has posed. If what we see and hear can no longer be trusted, how do we form a stable sense of reality?
AI’s influence on identity extends beyond the media. Personalization algorithms reinforce existing biases, locking users into echo chambers. If AI constantly feeds someone the same ideas, they may never be exposed to alternative perspectives, limiting cognitive flexibility and personal growth.
Longterm Genetic and Epigenetic Effects
The impact of AI does not stop at emotions or identity. It is influencing neurological and genetic expression in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Chronic stress, exposure to emotionally triggering content, and disrupted sleep patterns can all affect gene regulation through epigenetics. This means that while AI does not alter DNA itself, it influences which genes are turned on or off, affecting stress response, mental resilience, and cognitive function.
For example, long-term exposure to high-stress environments increases cortisol levels, which has been shown to impact memory formation, emotional regulation, and even immune function. AI-driven content consumption keeps users in a prolonged state of stress, which may lead to neurological changes that are passed on to future generations.
This is fundamentally different from short-term stress responses. If AI-driven anxiety and overstimulation continue over years or decades, the way humans process information, regulate emotions, and experience the world may be permanently altered.
Practical Strategies – What Can We Do?
AI is not going away, but we can take steps to protect cognitive and emotional health while still benefiting from technological advancements.
Digital Wellness Specific to AI. Use AI-powered screen time tracking and automated content moderation to create healthier engagement patterns. Customize algorithm settings when possible to limit exposure to emotionally charged content.
Better AI Literacy. Recognize when AI is curating information to trigger emotional responses. Learn how recommendation algorithms work and how to distinguish human-generated content from AI-generated content.
Policy Advocacy. Push for AI regulation that includes mental health safeguards. Support laws that require transparency in AI-generated content and encourage ethical development practices.
Cognitive Workout. Train the brain to think critically by deliberately engaging in problem-solving activities that do not involve AI assistance. Debate, write, and analyze information independently.
Integrating AI Detection. Use AI tools to detect AI. AI can identify stuff like deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic bias we talked about before it influences decision-making. Being aware of AI-driven manipulation helps prevent that distorted perceptions of reality.
NHA’s Work – Taking Action
At the Neuro Health Alliance, we focus on AI’s impact, but our work extends beyond that.
We are actively working with educators, policymakers, and researchers to make AI literacy a standard part of education. Beyond AI, we advocate for improved access to mental health resources, early intervention strategies, and emotional resilience training.
Mental health is not just about avoiding harm. It is about building strength. AI should be part of a future where people can actually think for themselves, engage with the world confidently, and keep a strong sense of identity.
STOP Cyber Bullying Initiative
Specifically, one of the most harmful ways AI is used today is in cyberbullying. AI-driven social media has made online harassment faster, more targeted, and harder to stop.
Through the STOP Cyberbullying Initiative by NHA, we are using AI to detect harmful online behavior before it spreads. AI should not be used as a weapon against mental health. It should be used to protect it.
Artificial intelligence is shaping the future. The question is, who is shaping AI?
It is a simple concept. AI is inevitable. However, if people stop thinking for themselves, AI will do the thinking for them. If people stop questioning information, AI will decide what they believe. If people stop paying attention, AI will shape the world without them.
We do not have to let that happen. We can push for AI that helps us grow rather than weakens our ability to think and feel.
Technology is only as powerful as the way it is used. AI will not replace human intelligence unless we let it. The choices we make today will determine whether AI enhances human potential or erodes it.
We have the ability to decide.
Thank you.
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