Humans & AI — Episode 51

Alex Frenkel — How AI & Clinicians Together Are Transforming Mental Health Care

Dec 10, 2025

23 min

Alex Frenkel — How AI & Clinicians Together Are Transforming Mental Health Care

In this episode

Alex Frenkel is the Co-Founder and CEO at Kai.ai.

Alex Frenkel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kai.ai, a mental health platform that uses AI alongside licensed clinicians to expand access to therapy and emotional support. With a background in clinical psychology and years of experience as a therapist in public settings, Alex has blended his clinical knowledge with product leadership from the tech world to create a unique approach to mental health care. His work centers on making quality support both effective and accessible, especially for those who might otherwise face long waits or limited options.

In this episode, Alex shares the story behind Kai.ai and how the platform combines conversational AI with human clinicians to provide personalized, immediate support. He explains how this hybrid model helps extend the reach of therapists without replacing them, ensuring that care remains safe and ethical. Alex also touches on the challenges of privacy and the importance of genuine human connection in digital mental health tools. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on his journey from therapist to entrepreneur and how technology can change the way people get help, especially young people and those with urgent needs.

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