Dr. Olga Perski is a behavioral scientist interested in how digital tools can help people change habits or overcome addictions — such as smoking. According to her, digital interventions hold enormous potential. At the same time, she warns against uncritical optimism. “Some widely available digital tools — for example calorie- or weight-tracking apps — can have negative effects on the mental health of some users,” notes Dr. Perski.

The interview also touches on a pressing question: could smart algorithms one day replace human therapists? “Many people around the world do not have access to psychological care — in some countries because of expensive health insurance, in others because of long waiting lists. But when therapy is delivered through technology, it becomes accessible even to those who would otherwise never receive it,” she says.

Large language models may appear empathetic and intelligent, but their behavior is probabilistic — not human. They can be wrong. They can provide harmful advice. And especially in areas like suicidal ideation, human oversight and strict control over what the system can and cannot say are absolutely essential.

You can hear more about digital health, smoking-cessation support, and Olga Perski’s journey into podcasting in the new episode of Science Up Close — a popular science podcast featuring researchers from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ostrava.