ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people seek information, support and care for their mental health. As AI tools become increasingly common, questions about evidence, safety, equity and accountability are becoming more urgent.
The University of Michigan will bring researchers, clinicians, policymakers, technologists and community members together Oct. 5 for the AI and Mental Health Conference, hosted by the Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society (MIDAS). The conference will explore the opportunities and risks of AI in mental health, focusing on responsible innovation and the role of people in shaping these technologies.
“AI is already becoming part of how people seek information, support and care for their mental health. That creates extraordinary opportunities, but also important responsibilities,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. “We need thoughtful conversations grounded in science, ethics and lived experience to ensure these technologies strengthen, rather than replace, the human relationships at the heart of mental health care.”
Wright will join Caitlin Stamatis, clinical psychologist and head of research at Slingshot AI, and Michael Tjalve, founder of Humanitarian AI Advisory and co-founder of RootsAI Foundation, as keynote speakers. Their perspectives span psychology, clinical research, technology and humanitarian action.
“Responsible innovation in mental health AI means getting clinicians and end users into the room early enough that they shape what gets built from the ground up. It also means submitting what we’ve built to evaluation we don’t control—giving independent researchers access to our data and the freedom to publish what they find, whether or not it flatters our product,” said Caitlin Stamatis, clinical psychologist and head of research at Slingshot AI.
The conference will feature three panels focused on the questions shaping the field: What Is Happening to Us?, examining how AI is affecting mental health and human behavior; What Can AI Actually Do?, exploring the evidence and limitations of emerging tools; and Who Gets to Decide?, addressing governance, ethics and accountability.
The event will also feature a Community Connection Session, “Build / Study / Change,” highlighting perspectives from people working to develop, study and shape the use of AI in mental health. A Listening Wall will invite attendees to share their concerns, hopes and ideas for the future.
“This conference comes at a pivotal moment,” said Jing Liu, executive director of MIDAS. “AI is advancing faster than our understanding of its long-term impact on mental health. Universities have a unique responsibility to bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, industry and communities to ensure these technologies are developed responsibly. This conference is designed to spark the collaborations needed to shape the future of AI and mental health.”
Additional speakers include researchers and practitioners from U-M and organizations across health care, technology, policy and mental health.
The conference begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 5 at the Michigan Union’s Rogel Ballroom in Ann Arbor. An invite-only collaborative workshop will follow Oct. 6, bringing participants together to identify research priorities, strengthen cross-sector partnerships and develop recommendations for community programs, policy and responsible AI innovation in mental health.
Registration is open at https://midas.umich.edu/events/aimh-conference-2026/