In this episode of AI Daily Podcast, we explore a major shift in artificial intelligence innovation: AI is no longer just a tool for productivity or schoolwork. New survey findings from New South Wales show that young people are increasingly using generative AI for mental health support, conversation, and personal advice, signaling that one of the most important advances in AI today may be always-available, low-cost access rather than model performance alone.

Nearly 29% of teenagers surveyed said they had used generative AI for mental health support, while 27% used it for conversation or advice. With many young users engaging with chatbots multiple times a day, this episode looks at how AI is beginning to fill gaps left by overstretched and expensive mental health systems. It also raises urgent questions about safety, trust, and what happens when general-purpose AI tools are used in emotionally sensitive roles they were not originally designed to handle.

We break down three key innovation themes emerging from this trend: better conversational design, stronger safety systems, and public sector adaptation. As users increasingly treat AI like a confidant, developers face growing pressure to improve empathy, crisis detection, transparency, and clarity around the limits of these systems. The episode highlights why the next frontier in AI may be emotional usability and trust as much as raw technical capability.

We also connect this story to a parallel development in the legal world, where experts are examining how AI can be integrated into courts and legal systems without sacrificing accountability or transparency. From teen mental health support to legal decision-making, the same question is emerging everywhere: how should AI be governed when people begin to rely on it in high-stakes situations?

Tune in to AI Daily Podcast for a sharp look at how AI is becoming part of everyday life, public institutions, and systems of support—and why the next wave of innovation will be defined by guardrails, oversight, trust, and responsible design.

Links:

Young Australians turning to AI for mental health help
Young Australians turning to AI for mental health help
Young Australians turning to AI for mental health help
Young Australians turning to AI for mental health help
Gurugram University conference draws 192 researchers to discuss AI and law

AI Daily Podcast: AI, Trust, and Mental Health Support