Loneliness & Digital Self-Connection
The combination of Artificial intelligence & Psychedelics has the potential to transform our wellbeing. The future of healthcare & medicine may lie within this intersection.
Welcome to the written edition of the ICP newsletter. Mohammad Syed writes from the Empasco desk on how Artificial Intelligence & Psychedelics can transform human happiness.
The Digest
“Self- reflection is the school of wisdom”- Baltasar Gracián, philosopher of ethics & politics, author of the book “The Art of Worldly Wisdom”
Biotech & AI integration- the combination of Biotech & AI is revolutionising healthcare by combining genetic engineering, molecular biology, and biochemistry with AI to enable predictive healthcare and personalised medicine.
BioTech & Mental Health innovation- organisations like Apeiron Investment Group (which manage over $3 billion in investment assets) are deeply involved in innovation & investment at the intersection of AI, Psychedelics & Healthcare.
The Mental Health Crisis & Psychedelics- the global rise in mental health issues like depression and anxiety is overwhelming healthcare systems. Psychedelics are emerging as a promising treatment option, with significant investment in research and development of therapeutic protocols across the world.
Loneliness & Digital Therapy- there is a global loneliness crisis, driven by individualism, urbanisation, and superficial digital interactions. Innovative solutions combining AI and mental health practices can foster meaningful connections, improve community integration, and promote holistic well-being.
Digitally Enabled Self-Connection- the intersection of AI & Psychedelics can enhance self-connection and mental well-being through the development of digital solutions like health trackers, mindfulness apps, and online therapy.
Tell us what you think
The Empasco Briefing
In our latest podcast episode, we hosted tech billionaire and investor Christian Angermayer to discuss the 'Next Human Agenda’; the future of humanity in the age of AI, advances in BioTech and the role of psychedelics in mental health.
Over the past 20 years, Christian has taken ~50 start-ups to IPO and is a partner of the Munich security conference. An advisor to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and founding member of President Macron's “Scale-up Europe” initiative, his family- run Apeiron Investment Group has more than $3bn of assets under management.
Through the Angermayer Policy & Innovation Forum he hosts heads of state, investors, politicians, and scientists to discuss global priorities and also runs the Aurora Institute, the first nonprofit incubator for mental health crisis solutions.
See the episode here:
The Future of Healthcare- BioTech
BioTech is a field of science that studies & utilises living organisms and biological systems to develop solutions that improve human life, such as healthcare. This can include the use of genetic engineering, molecular biology, and biochemistry to develop better drugs & vaccines, as well as improve disease treatments & diagnosis.
In addition, BioTech is key to solving many of the world’s most pressing climate- related challenges, such as developing genetically modified crops with greater nutritional content, industrial- scale biofuels that are vastly more sustainable, and biological waste treatment & recycling solutions (e.g. enzymes that digest waste).
Any relationship to AI might seem tenuous, but the combination of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering with the computational power of AI has the potential to create unimaginable solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.
Consider life expectancy, which is expected to soar well past 100yrs and reshape our societies as it does so. Being able to predict requirements ahead of time, personalise interventions, provide constant clinical oversight, and revolutionise mental & social health delivery is only possible with the integration of AI; without enormous computational power, powerful solutions will be limited, reactive and costly.
When we then consider the frontier of healthcare, such as synthetic biology (engineering inorganic biological systems), genome editing (modifying DNA sequences to treat genetic disorders), and personalised medicine (tailoring medical treatments to individual genetic profiles), it becomes clear how critical AI is.
Whether it enabling early detection & diagnosis through data mining, pattern- detection on genetic information, treating mental health disorders based on trends that are being constantly updated, or enabling patients to make healthcare choices based on their unique health & genetic profiles, AI-powered solutions like chatbots, virtual therapists and health tracking solutions are critical to the future of healthcare.
The Mental Health Crisis
Across the world, the prevalence & severity of mental health issues is escalating. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are all rapidly rising, fuelled by stress, social isolation, economic pressures, and cultural stigmas related to mental health.
This crisis is not only severely damaging to our well-being but is also crippling healthcare systems and economic productivity, as systems that were designed to “cure” or “fix” struggle to adapt to preventative medicine.
While policy- makers are investing in awareness programs, school & workplace education, and new healthcare services, an exciting field of research has taken root- the use of psychedelics as part of a comprehensive mental health strategy.
Psychedelics
Psychedelics are on the brink of revolutionising mental health treatment, with industry estimated to be worth $10 billion by 2030 now a major area of VC investment.
Some of the leading startups in this space are developing a broad portfolio of psychedelic compounds, including LSD and MDMA, to treat mental health conditions, as well as digital therapeutics (i.e. software-based interventions to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions, such as mobile apps that use algorithms to tailor interventions to individual patients based on their specific needs, behaviors, and medical histories. This includes modifying behaviours and promoting healthier habits, often via cognitive- behavioural therapy, gamification, and real-time feedback).
The industry is focused on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics (e.g. improved neuroplasticity), as well as the creation of standardised therapeutic protocols for psychedelic- assisted psychotherapy. In addition, policy- makers around the world are now developing legal & regulatory frameworks to facilitate research and clinical use.
As we delve deeper into this uncharted territory, the integration of psychedelics into therapeutic practices could mark a pivotal shift in addressing complex mental health challenges- and many parts of the world are already leading the way.
Frontiers in mental health: China, UAE & South America
The use of psychedelics for mental health treatment is still in the early stages globally, and with regions adopting unique investment & regulatory approaches depending o their attitude towards the field, and unique health & mental health challenges.
China and the UAE are in the early stages of exploring psychedelics for mental health, with traditionally conservative attitudes towards drugs and strict drug laws. However, rapid scientific and regulatory advancements are being made including psychedelics in the context of traditional Chinese medicine and Islamic spiritual practices.
The regulatory environment is also shifting, starting within scientific & academic circles. Significant investment is going into developing a knowledge- base through clinical trials in collaboration with international institutions, as well as mental health infrastructure & awareness. This is in addition to the modernisation of healthcare systems and the integration of innovative treatments that is already happening.
The UAE in particular is known globally as a rapid adopter of new technologies and medical innovations, and is likely to become a future leader in regulated medical use.
South America is an even more fascinating case. Several countries are already advanced in their exploration and integration of psychedelics for mental health, with Brazil, Peru, and Colombia drawing upon a rich tradition of psychedelic usage in indigenous ceremonies & spiritual practices. In addition to this, several clinical research centers & treatment facilities offering psychedelic-assisted therapies have been created, employing Ayahuasca (a Amazonian psychoactive brew used for spiritual and medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin) to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD within a regulated setting.
Digitally enabled self-connection
Conversations around AI often focuses on human-to-human connection, but the intersection of AI & Psychedelics offers profound: digitally- enabled self connection.
Digitally-enabled self-connection refers to the use of digital tools and technologies to enhance an individual's ability to understand, reflect on, and improve their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This encompasses a range of activities & practices, such as applications that support self- reflection and mindfulness (think guided meditations and reflective journaling), health & fitness trackers that monitor health metrics, and services for mental health such as therapy (e.g. online CBT).
While AI can enable social & community connection, predictive interventions and real- time advice & support services, psychedelics provide the in- person component of an integrated, holistic approach to mental health. The regulated and co- ordinated use of psychedelics, driven by insights from AI and supported by online communities, can enable constantly- evolving, tailored mental health management & treatment whilst also curing many of the causes of the mental health crisis, such as loneliness.
This new area of healthcare, which leverages technology, individual empowerment, cutting- edge well-being practices and social media communities can be a transformative arena for promoting and embedding health-conscious lifestyles.
Case Study: Loneliness
The western world has a number of socio- economic, cultural and political factors that contribute to the crisis of loneliness. A culture of individualism and personal achievement & independence over communal and social bonds has reduced the emphasis on building & maintaining relationships, while urbanisation has resulted in increasingly fleeting & superficial social interactions as increased mobility for the pursuit of career & educational opportunities has led to frequent relocation.
As digital communication tools, such as social media, have connected people across the globe, they have also contributed to the superficiality of our interactions; comments sections are cesspits of hateful content that reflect a deep lack of empathy, while many younger people have become afraid of face-to-face interactions as the overuse of technology has lead to isolation and a reduction in-person socialisation.
Combined with changes to family structures and high work demands, deep- socialising (e.g. meaningful encounters, rather than booze- based social gatherings) have exacerbated feelings of loneliness and created a silent, stigmatised catastrophe.
As populations age and economic pressures increase, we need solutions that are proactive, centred around connection with the self and with others, and combine virtual & physical interaction models depending on individual evolution. This multifaceted approach will need to span issues like community connection, work-life balance, mental health support, and technology to address holistic well-being.
In this context, innovative solutions that combine Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health will provide an entirely new and transformative frontier in mental health.
About Empasco
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Listen to our Podcast
For more insights on this topic, check out our podcast episodes on:
Further reading
TESCREAL Hallucinations: Psychedelic and AI hype as inequality engines (N. Devenot, Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2023) [Link]; psychedelics & AI in addressing mental health issues and addressing underlying social inequalities.
Psychedelics & Artificial Intelligence: Integrating AI-Powered Analysis in Phenomenological Mental Health Studies (D. Gonzalez-Rodriguez, M. Perez-Carmona, 2023) [Link]; the integration of AI into psychedelic experiences to enhance understanding and treatment of mental health conditions.
Pioneering Methods in Brain Optimization and Mental Health Treatment (RB. Kargbo, ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2024) [Link]; AI and psychedelic therapy for optimizing brain function and treating mental health disorders.
Professionals in psychiatry need reflective competence (D. Denys, World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association, 2024) [Link]; the criticality of reflective competence in the field of psychiatry, predicting substantial innovations in the field through AI and psychedelic research.
Ceremonial Ayahuasca in Amazonian retreats—mental health and epigenetic outcomes from a six-month naturalistic study (SGD. Ruffell, N. Netzband, WF. Tsang, M. Davies, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2023) [Link]; investigating the mental health and epigenetic outcomes of ceremonial Ayahuasca use for mental health.