PTSD Treatment: How AI Is Helping Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Institute for Creative Technologies at USC got lots of buzz for its original research, and introducing the world to Ellie, a digital diagnostic tool that strongly resembles, but cannot replace a human therapist. Ellie, an avatar of a woman in a cardigan with olive-toned skin and a soothing voice, listens to the people who come to her, and does what any human sounding board does. She listens to the content of their speech, and scans their facial expressions, tone, and voice, for cues that hint at meanings beyond speech. Ellie’s design was decided upon by the research group’s art team. As for how Ellie sounds, “she has a very comforting voice,” Lucas told Newsweek.
Continue reading on Newsweek.com.