Clinical Round Table 19 - Stepping into a New World: The Exciting Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) are increasingly converging, with AI enhancing VR’s capabilities by creating dynamic, interactive, and personalized environments, and VR serving as a powerful platform for AI-driven applications in training, education, and treatment. In the realm of behavioral health, these Artificial Reality (AR) systems provide a unique tool for assessment and intervention, allowing researchers to design controlled stimulus environments that create user experiences and capture real-time behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses. While initially developed for phobia treatment, AR has expanded to address a range of psychological disorders, including PTSD, substance use disorders, eating disorders, psychosis, and autism spectrum disorder. AI can also serve to support the creation of AI-powered Virtual Human Agents (VHAs) that can simulate empathetic conversations, guide exposure exercises, and reinforce cognitive restructuring strategies, making therapy more accessible and personalized. This integration is anticipated to have a significant impact on behavioral and cognitive therapy by providing adaptive, always-available, and emotionally responsive therapeutic interactions. Despite significant advances, critical challenges remain. Empirical research has largely focused on Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for anxiety and PTSD, with limited adaptation to diverse sociocultural contexts. While costs have become less of a barrier to adoption with recent commercial systems, clinician unfamiliarity with the technology and its implementation can restrict access in public healthcare settings. Moreover, ethical and privacy concerns require careful consideration. This clinical roundtable will feature three leading experts reflecting on the state of AR in mental health, its current limitations, and its future potential. Key questions will include: How will AR shape the future of CBT? What are the risks and benefits of AR-based interventions? What ethical challenges must be addressed? Through insights from the panelists and audience engagement, this discussion will explore both the promise and the complexities of integrating AR into mental health care.