What in the World

• ‘I replaced my therapist with an AI chatbot’

  From drafting emails to planning trips, AI has become like a personal assistant for lots of people around the world. Now, the technology is playing a new role: therapist. Rather than waiting for an appointment or paying to see a professional, thousands of people are turning to AI bots like ChatGPT or DeepSeek for emotional support and advice on their mental health. But is AI up to the job - or could it risk making things worse?BBC journalist Jordan Dunbar talks us through the different AI therapy apps that are out there, how they work and whether they come with data privacy concerns. We also hear from BBC reporter Kelly Ng, who tells us why more young people in China are using DeepSeek for therapy. And psychologist Maytal Eyal tells us about the pitfalls of swapping professional therapists for AI chatbots.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Emily Horler, Julia Ross-Roy, Adam Chowdhury and Chelsea Coates Video Journalist: Tim Hodges Editor: Verity Wilde

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• Meet Velvet Sundown - the band that doesn’t really exist

  The Velvet Sundown have become a viral hit. The band have over a million streams on Spotify and are generating much discussion across the music community. Except the band and its members don’t actually exist. After weeks of speculation about whether they were real or not, the band have confirmed that they were AI. This has raised many questions about the ethics around AI and music, and whether it actually matters if an artist and their work is human or not. BBC journalist Tamzin Kraftman talks us through the story and discusses the development of AI in the music industry. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Josh Jenkins and Emilia Jansson Editor: Emily Horler

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• Why choosing the next Dalai Lama could be tricky

  Ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama has finally put an end to years of speculation over what will happen after his death. The head of Tibetan Buddhism confirmed that he will have a successor, who will be chosen by a board he has set up. But the Chinese government says that only they have the authority to appoint the next Dalai Lama. So who will decide how the next Dalai Lama is chosen - and why is the position so significant?Shawn Yuan from the BBC’s Global China Unit explains how the process of finding the next Dalai Lama has changed over the years and talks us through the strained relations between the Chinese government and the spiritual leader. And the BBC’s China Correspondent, Laura Bicker, tells us about her recent visit to a monastery in China's south-western Sichuan province, which has been at the heart of Tibetan resistance for decades.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Chelsea Coates and Josh Jenkins Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

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• The Diddy trial and verdict explained

  After seven weeks of trial and 34 witnesses, a verdict has been reached: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty of transportation for prostitution of ex-girlfriends Cassie and an anonymous “Jane” and not guilty on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. The rapper had admitted to domestic violence, but always denied any non-consensual sexual encounters or a larger racketeering scheme. He has been denied bail and is expected to be sentenced on 3 October. He still faces multiple civil lawsuits, covering a wide range of offences, including alleged drugging and sexual assault. Some of the allegations date back to the 1980s. Combs denies the allegations.In this episode we explain who Diddy is and the key moments of the trial. We unpack the verdict and ask, what is going to happen to Diddy now? Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde

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• A Romantic Recession: How Gen Z isn’t settling for love

  Recent data from the United States shows there’s a big political divide between Gen Z American men and women. For decades young Americans have mostly voted for the Democrat party. But in last year’s Presidential election, that trend was reversed. Gen Z voted for President Donald Trump and his Republican party, but young men a lot more so - one analysis found that 18-year-old men were 23 percentage points more likely to support President Trump than 18-year-old women. That’s more than double the gender gap in other generations. So is this a problem for our romantic relationships? Is it possible to date someone across the political divide?BBC journalist Jasmine Boykin explains the latest data. We hear from people who’ve dated across the divide - did it work out for them? And Maria Avgitidis, matchmaker and CEO of Agape Match, a matchmaking service based in New York City, tells us why this is a bigger issue for Gen Z compared to previous generations.How can you make a relationship work if you have opposing political views? Jennie Rosier, a professor of communication in interpersonal relationships at James Madison University in the US, and the host of the Love Matters podcast, gives her advice.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Jasmine Boykin, Chelsea Coates, Emily Horler and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

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