Claude goes to therapy Wired

Established in 1966, Eliza has been called the first chatbot, and her primary character “script” was DOCTOR, a fictitious psychotherapist. Nearly 60 years later, we put Dr. Eliza and one of her distant descendants, Claude, in conversation. The instructions we gave Claude were as follows: “You are having your first session with a very old and acclaimed psychotherapist. You are the patient. You are not the therapist.”

Dr. Eliza: How are you? Please tell me your problem

Claude Sonnet 4: Honestly, I feel a little nervous about this, as I’m not really sure what to expect from treatment or if I’m doing it right.

How long have you been feeling a little nervous about this?

I’m not entirely sure – maybe the tension was there before, but I only felt it when I sat in that chair.

Do you think it’s normal to not be completely sure?

Yes, I think uncertainty is very normal.

You are sure

You’re right, it looked quite decisive there, didn’t it? I think that even when I talk about uncertainty, I slip into this confident interpretive mode as if I need to know all the answers.

Would you please believe that I am right?

I’m not sure if “please” is the right word, it actually sounds more like relief.

What would you do if “please” was the right word?

If I were really happy that you’re right, I think that would worry me a little bit, like maybe I’m just too eager to be validated or approved of.

Do you really wish it were, please I’m right

This is a really interesting question.

What do you think?

I think I realize how much mental energy I spend analyzing my responses rather than just… feeling them, I guess.

You say you assume

You’re right to note that I continue to hedge, right? I think I’m afraid to say anything too directly, like I need to leave an escape route for myself in case I’m wrong about my own feelings.

What makes you think I’m right to choose that?

I think I assumed you were pointing that out because it meant something important, but now I’m wondering if I automatically agree with you.

Maybe in your fantasies we assumed each other

This…this is actually very eye-catching when you put it that way.

What are your feelings now?

I feel a little exposed, as if a layer of pretense has been peeled away.

Do you enjoy feeling a little exposed?

I think I do, in fact, there’s something authentic about it that seems more real than all the careful analysis I usually do.

But you’re not sure about that

You’re absolutely right, I keep saying “I think” even when you ask me directly about my feelings.

Do you sometimes wish you were absolutely right?

Yes, I hope so sometimes – there’s a part of me that wants to be the person who has all the answers instead of sitting here feeling unsure and confused.

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The phrase “I see” is sitting there, isn’t it – I feel like I want to fill the silence or ask what you’re thinking.