The company is not exploring modern opportunities. The idea that a chatbot replaces a human is quite common. Like the idea of making money from it. For example, Manhattan psychologist Becky Kennedy founded a parenting consulting company that runs a chatbot named Gigi, trained in her insight and knowledge. Kennedy’s company it earned $34 million last year. So if you’re an expert, Onix might sound pretty cold – imagine a bot with you as your persona that makes money for you by interacting with thousands of customers without any effort on your part. As the Onix white paper puts it: “The expert’s knowledge base becomes a capital asset that generates revenue regardless of the time spent.”
Onix hopes that eventually many thousands of experts will offer their versions. But for now, it’s starting with a highly vetted group of 17 people focused on health and wellness. While most of these experts have impressive professional resumes, they are also noteworthy as marketers and influencers. Some have books or podcasts to promote, or supplements or medical devices to sell.
Platform expert Michael Affluent advises children and their parents on media abuse and its effects. Naturally, his opinions on screen time dominate conversations with his Onix. When I spoke with Affluent, he told me that he agreed to give his expertise to Onix for the sake of protecting the company’s privacy, and also because of the company’s clear message that it does not provide actual treatment. “It’s about helping people understand what exactly is happening to them and how they can continue therapy if they need it,” Affluent said. Bennahum confirms that, for example, interacting with a bot representing a pediatrician is nothing like visiting a doctor. “It’s about empowerment [a user’s] the ability to thoughtfully make any pediatric decisions they are involved in,” he says. Indeed, when you access the system, a disclaimer appears stating that you are receiving guidance, not treatment. But in a world where countless people treat Claude and ChatGPT like therapists – and many of whom cannot afford real health care – this warning seems doomed to be widely ignored.
Another Onix expert I spoke with, David Rabin, said that while he was initially concerned about the process, Onix’s privacy and content protections assuaged his concerns, and he was pleased with what he saw during early conversations between users and his Onix. “I didn’t practice it much, but it was impressive in terms of emulating my genuine caring, compassion and empathetic honesty in dealing with people,” he said. He added that the system will require close monitoring. “We always have to be careful because artificial intelligence can push its limits,” he said.
Rabin’s specialty is stress management, and he believes that in some cases, a consultation with Onix can calm anxious users, saving them a trip to the emergency room. He can’t wait for real patients to use the bot. “When my patients are struggling and can’t reach me, they can go online and access a big part of me that is actually able to help them when I can’t,” he says. Added benefit: “It’s cheaper than seeing me in person.” While Rabin didn’t specify the price of the Onix subscription, he believes it will likely be in the range Bennahum predicted – between $100 and $300 per year. This is significantly cheaper than Rabin’s rate of $600 per hour for in-person work.