Thought Summit at Cornell University
This Thought Summit brings together leading experts and thought leaders from academia, industry, and the entrepreneurial world to envision and help create the future of everyday AI and mental health. With wide-ranging expertise in clinical machine learning, human-centered AI for mental health, law and policy, as well as business and economics, the Summit participants will discuss how these disciplines can collaborate to realize the transformative potential of everyday AI systems in mental health care.
The Charge
From detecting and mitigating people’s suicidal thoughts from social media posts to tracking and alleviating depression using AppleWatch, consumer-grade AI software holds exciting promises in addressing the national mental health crisis that plagues the U.S. Everyday AI systems promise not only more timely, but also smoother transitions from self-directed wellness practices to professional psychiatric treatments.
However, for decades, distinct laws regulated commercial and clinical software, as well as the data they collected. Different economic models dictate who can access consumer- and clinical-grade sensing devices. Therefore, until recently, when patients transition from self-directed to professional mental healthcare, physicians must gather their behavioral health data and formulate treatment plans anew. Meanwhile, everyday sensing devices and AI promise stepped interventions (e.g., from sleep-and-exercise suggestions to cognitive behavioral therapy and formal psychiatric care), a care pathway better suited to the progressive nature of most mental illnesses.
Organizers* and Participants
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Qian Yang* Designs AI-generated texts to augment thinking Cornell University |
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Fei Wang* Advances machine learning for health data science Weill Cornell Medicine |
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Tanzeem Choudhury* Academic & entrepreneur in wearable computing, AI, health Cornell Tech |
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Angel Hsing-Chi Hwang* Studies AI's impact on workers, incl. mental health impacts University of Southern California |
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Andrew Campbell Studies AI and behavioral sensing for student mental health assessment & support Dartmouth College |
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Munmun De Choudhury Studies adult & pediatric digital mental health, computational social science, human-computer interaction Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Ned Cooper Studies AI policy and participatory design. Former human rights lawyer. Australian National University |
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Margaret Hagan Uncovers the structural issues facing innovators building mental health solutions Stanford Law |
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Trisha Kilbourn Clinical social worker University of Rochester Medical Center |
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Liu, Guodong Studies psychometric assessments via an AI-powered conversational journal Penn State College of Medicine |
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Beth Kolko Academic, entrepreneur, & investor in AI and mental health University of Washington |
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Beth McGinty Studies health tech policy and mental health policy Co-leads Cornell Health Policy Center Weill Cornell Medicine |
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Sean Munson Designs psychosocial interventions for primary care, schools, communities. University of Washington |
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Yifan Peng Advances biomedical NLP and medical images Weill Cornell Medicine |
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Richmond Wong Studies privacy & infrastrcuture for ethical software design Georgia Tech |
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Ti Zhao Invests in 0-to-1 companies at AI-healthcare intersection Park Ventures |
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John Zimmerman Designs AI for older adults with cognitive decline Carnegie Mellon University |