Why AI eyes-open meditation apps could do more harm than good for your mental health [Video]

Easy, portable and convenient. The latest AI-powered wellbeing and meditation apps may sound like the ideal solution for those looking for peace in a chaotic world, but can an AI app really replace the expertise of a human meditation guide? Not easily.

Meditation aims to improve attention and self-awareness through cognitive training, improving self-regulation and bringing a variety of physical and psychological benefits, from stress reduction to better sleep and lower blood pressure.

Eyes-open meditation has attracted media interest recently, thanks to celebrity wellbeing influencers, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, extolling the virtues of the practice. It involves holding a relaxed, open gaze while staying fully present in the moment. If practised appropriately, eyes-open meditation can offer a sense of connection to the environment and a heightened awareness of surroundings.

Bhikkhu Samadhikusala, a contemporary meditation master and Buddhist monk, explained to us that in the Buddha’s teachings “meditation”, or “bhavana”, translates as “that which is to be developed”. So, meditation involves …