Scatter Lab's AI chatbot reduces loneliness and social anxiety in users

The generative artificial intelligence (AI) startup Scatter Lab announced on the 22nd that its social AI chatbot has a positive effect on alleviating users' loneliness and social anxiety through research collaboration with the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).

Scatter Lab launched the AI chatbot "Iruda 2.0" in 2022 and conducted in-depth research on the influence of AI chatbots on users' psychological states in collaboration with several universities. Among this, the UNIST research team demonstrated through experiments using "Iruda 2.0" that social chatbots are effective in alleviating loneliness and social anxiety.

The paper titled "Therapeutic potential of social chatbots for alleviating loneliness and social anxiety: A quasi-experimental mixed methods study" was co-authored by Professor Jung Doo-young from the UNIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Professor Jo Cheol-hyun from Korea University's Anam Hospital Department of Psychiatry.

The paper was published in the prestigious international journal JMIR (Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol 27) on Jan. 14 and was evaluated as an innovative case of integrating digital technology into mental health management.

The research team had a total of 176 participants interact with the AI chatbot "Iruda" at least three times a week for four weeks and measured their levels of loneliness and social anxiety using standardized survey tools. To assess how interactions with the social chatbot contribute to personal emotional stability and consolidation, they compared and analyzed data collected before and after the experiment and conducted additional small interviews to explore participants' experiences in depth.

The research results showed that regular interactions with the social chatbot reduced users' "loneliness" scores by an average of 15% and alleviated "social anxiety" scores by an average of 18%. In the case of "loneliness," the positive effects were particularly pronounced when users disclosed much about themselves to the chatbot and when users had higher resilience.

The research team confirmed the potential for social chatbots to become popular tools in mental health management through this study and is planning additional research to improve the usability of chatbots and enhance personalized services.

Kim Jong-yun, CEO of Scatter Lab, noted, "The results of this study are significant in confirming that social chatbots have positive effects in alleviating users' loneliness and anxiety and being recognized academically," and added, "We will continue our research and development to provide a safe user experience."