"AI should be a clinical co-pilot and never the decision-maker"

"Artificial intelligence is the technology best suited to our discipline: it has the ability to analyze data identify patterns. But its role should be that of a clinical co-pilot, never that of the decision-maker." This is howPablo Roca, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Medea Mind and B3 Psicología, summarized the central idea of his presentation at thecongress on Psychology, Technological Innovation, and Entrepreneurshiporganized by the University. The three-day meeting in Madrid meeting 250 people from 55 universities to discuss the future of the profession.

For Roca, AI can improve the quality, personalization, and efficiency of psychological care, provided that clinical judgment and the therapeutic relationship remain at the center of treatment. According to data the association Psychological association that he cited in his presentation,77% of the psychologists surveyed use AI to support their interventions—for example, to design motivational strategies—and 39% report that their patients use these tools on their own. During the internship, he explained, “this means that technology analyzes data, detects patterns, and suggests guidelines, while the professional retains the final say on every decision.”

Building on that idea, he developed the concept ofPrecision Mental Health, a data -driven care model data aims to provide “the right intervention, to the right person, at the right time.” Roca insisted, however, that technological innovation only makes sense if it is implemented manager. He listed several principles that, in his view, are non-negotiable:human oversight, data security and privacy, transparency, equity, interoperability, assessment , and training for professionals. “Only then can the potential of technology translate into better clinical decisions and better outcomes for patients,” he concluded.

training: The Other challenge

In addition to discussing artificial intelligence, the congress focused on the training the professionals themselves. Jesús de la source, Full Professor Evolutionary and Educational Psychology at the University, noted that 80% of psychologists practice in the private sector: “It is essential that they internalize the importance of staying up to date on scientific evidence and the latest scientific developments, for two reasons: to stay abreast of the latest approaches to patient intervention and, secondly, to set themselves apart from their direct competitors.”

In his discussion paper, the Full Professor the need to raise awareness—starting with the curricula of Degree postgraduate program—of theimportance of professionals internalizing the research and development, research and development( research and development) value chain. "We must launch a strategy for change by developing a technological product once a year, creating a structure of research and development Departments within organizations that brings this value chain to life in academic, professional, and business settings, and working on the basis of evidence-based interventions."