AI and large language models are being woven into our social and professional fabric. This shift presents an opportunity to integrate psychological wisdom into these AI systems, enabling interactions that benefit our mental health and well-being. I will present research on how LLMs can advocate for policy positions and contribute to happiness and meaning in life. In mental health specifically, LLMs may substantially expand access to care, assisting in therapist training and therapy delivery. Finally, I will discuss how we need to think harder and with greater specificity about the impacts of AI on people and organizations, and escape the simplistic narratives presented by Silicon Valley and in airport bookstores.
Johannes Eichstaedt is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford and a Shriram faculty fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered A.I. He uses Natural Language Processing and LLMs to measure and improve mental health. In 2011, he co-founded the World Well-Being Project, now a consortium of psychology and computer science labs across four universities. Originally trained as a physicist, Johannes received his Ph.D. and clinical training at the University of Pennsylvania. Johannes was elected a rising star and emerging leader by three scientific organizations, has published 85+ articles, and has served as an expert for the United Nations and several governments. In the 2025/2026 academic year, he is visiting INSEAD, near Paris.