10 Ways Psychologists Can Get Started With AI – Without Being a Techie

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) can seem intimidating, especially if you’re not a programmer or data scientist. But here’s the thing: you don’t really need to be a tech expert to start using AI in your practice or research. AI tools are becoming more accessible, and there are plenty of ways to start playing around with them that don’t require any coding knowledge. Here are 10 steps psychologists can take to integrate AI into their work, even if you’re a total beginner.

1. Get Curious About AI Trends

AI is starting to reshape how we work and how we run our practices. The first step to understanding how its affecting us is simple: stay informed. Begin by following AI trends in areas related to your field. For me it AI applied to psychological assessments and the future of work and I follow @Bernard Marr for example and Sabrina Ramonov ?? . Searching for your area and AI on LinkedIn (eg. "Psychometrics" AND "AI") will produce a whole host of people! Check their follower count as an indicator as to the impact of their content.

You can also subscribe to psychology and AI podcasts to stay current. Some of my favourites are:

1. The AI & I podcast hosted by Dan Shipper explains latest trends in easy to understand language
2. The TWIML AI podcast by Sam Charrington who talks about how AI impacts businesses and the lives of people
3. Practical AI: Machine Learning by Changelo Media is a podcast focused on the practical applications of AI. It can sometimes get a tiny bit technical, but its not overwhelming!
4. The Eye on AI podcast by Craig Smith tackles broad issues in AI that impacts everyone. Its one of my favourites
5. Surrey Speaks: Will AI? Is a podcast hosted by the University of Surrey where they translate the latest research into easy to understand language. ?

You can also read news articles that break down complex AI topics into manageable insights. My favourite resources are:

1. Wired’s AI RSS Feed
2. AI Weekly
3. AI Business
4. Venture Beat – This one will show you all the latest tools, applications ?and techniques
5. Forbes AI

There are also AI-Focused News Letters you can subscribe to. The ones I found most interesting and related to my field of work is:

1. The Rundown. They provide the latest AI news, help you understand why it matters, and learn how to apply it in your work — all in just 5 minutes a day.
2. Ben’s Bites. They provide curated news and AI products, daily. And self written content on how businesses and practitioners are using AI weekly

Also try and keep an eye out on how AI is impacting therapy, psychometric assessments, or practice management via the APA. By doing so, you’ll be able to see how AI is starting to affect you’re your practice!

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2. Experiment with User-Friendly AI Tools

You don’t need to dive into coding to start using AI. In the last 2 years, AI applications have become mainstream and easily accessible. There are many tools ranging from Custom ChatGPT Agents built around mental health assessments, through to using synthetic correlations to help you develop psychological tests.

You can use tools like Google’s AI studio and play around with tools to do sentiment analysis and text classification on written text, and help you uncover themes in your patient notes that you didn’t know existed.

There are so many User-Friendly tools out there that you can play around with. Some of my favourites (FREE ONES) are:

1. Preplexity.ai and You.com for research and getting answers to questions I have (with references!!)
2. Napkin.ai to help you create beautiful figures
3. Sabrina Ramonov’s Prompt Library. Her extensive library helps you optimise the use of ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity etc.
4. Pickaxeproject. They let you build custom chatbots and applications (no need to code!!) around your own documents and content. Its really straightforward.
5. Dora. It’s a free application that helps you generate a beautiful landing page for your practice with only a prompt ??
6. Make.com. This site helps you build custom automations to help simplify your practice and your life. It’s a drag and drop platform and integrates with almost everything you use currently
7. Beautiful.ai. This site helps you create beautiful powerpoint presentations with just a prompt.
8. Coursezy. With just a couple of prompts, it can create an entire online course for you on any topic you can imagine!
9. Tinywow.com . Although not explicitly an AI platform, it has lists of AI tools to help you do a lot of tasks which you would need specialised programmes for… but free (for example upscaling an image with AI, or help create presentations with AI)
10. Julius.ai. For those non data people, this platform helps you analise and visualise your data to help you!

Theres also sites that collect, rate and classify AI tools to help you find tools, apps and platforms to experiment with. Some of my favourites are:

1. Best of AI. They have a database of over 12 000 AI tools that you can view and experiment with.
2. Futuretools.io. ?Similar to BestAI but users have more input in voting for the best tools and apps. It has 2944 curated tools at the moment
3. Futurepedia. They are the most user-friendly and most visited platform out of the three.

Trying out these tools don’t require any technical skills. Play around with these tools to see how they might fit into your practice. The goal isn’t to master them immediately, but to get comfortable exploring what they can do and to see if they are useful too you

3. Identify AI’s Impact on Your Field

Every role within psychology—from clinical to research—will evolve as AI develops. A practical way to embrace this change is to consider how your role might evolve with AI.

For example, will AI streamline assessments? Could it provide more accurate data interpretations?

A little foresight can help you prepare for the changes coming your way. Look into how other psychologists are using AI and pinpoint the skills or knowledge you’ll need to stay ahead.

4. Find an AI Mentor or Community

When it comes to learning something as vast and fast-moving as AI, going it alone can feel overwhelming. That’s why finding a mentor or joining a community can make all the difference. Just like any skill, AI becomes easier to understand when you have someone to guide you through the noise and focus your attention on what really matters. You don’t have to start by mastering everything. In fact, the best mentors will help you see that it’s about taking one step at a time.

The first place to look is within your own network. Do you know any colleagues who are already using AI in their work? Reach out to them, ask what tools they’re using, and how they got started. People are often more willing to share their insights than we think, especially when it comes to exciting new fields like AI. It’s not about finding someone with all the answers but rather someone who’s just a few steps ahead of you in the journey. Even informal conversations over coffee can spark ideas about how AI might fit into your practice.

If no one in your immediate circle seems to be working with AI, don’t worry. There are thriving online communities where people are eager to discuss AI in psychology, and they’re just a click away. Platforms like LinkedIn host active groups focused on AI in healthcare, psychology, or mental health, where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others navigating similar paths. Another option is attending AI-focused meetups or webinars, which are becoming more common as AI spreads across industries. Many of these events are designed for beginners, with experts breaking down complex topics into manageable pieces. After attending a few sessions, you might even find someone you click with—someone who could become a mentor or a regular sounding board as you continue to explore AI.

A mentor doesn’t have to be a traditional teacher. Sometimes, the best mentors come in the form of peers or professionals from entirely different fields. For example, a data scientist working in a healthcare setting might not know the intricacies of psychology, but they can offer insights on which AI tools are most effective for analyzing data or streamlining patient care. By collaborating with people outside your discipline, you get fresh perspectives on how AI can apply to your work. Look for cross-disciplinary conferences or AI events where you can meet people from tech, medicine, or even marketing. These encounters often lead to unexpected ideas or partnerships that wouldn’t have occurred if you stayed within your usual circles.

The key is to stay open and proactive. Don’t wait for a mentor or community to find you. Put yourself in places—both online and offline—where AI conversations are happening. The more you immerse yourself in those discussions, the sooner you’ll feel comfortable navigating AI’s possibilities. Whether through a professional mentor, a community of practice, or an online forum, learning AI becomes a lot less daunting when you have others to share the journey with

5. Attend AI-Focused Events or Webinars

AI-focused conferences and webinars are an excellent way to dive into the world of artificial intelligence, especially if you're new to the field. These events often include beginner-friendly sessions designed to help professionals from various backgrounds grasp the fundamentals of AI. Whether you're attending virtually or in person, you'll have the chance to learn from experts and see how AI is being applied in real-world settings, including psychology. Just as important, these events provide a space to network. The conversations you have with fellow attendees might spark new ideas or lead to valuable collaborations. And don't be shy about asking questions—this is where learning happens. You never know when a simple question could unlock a whole new approach for integrating AI into your practice.

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6. Explore AI Courses Tailored to Non-Techies

You don’t need to be a tech expert to start learning about AI. In fact, there are plenty of courses designed specifically for people with little to no technical background. Courses like "AI for Non Techies" or AI-focused classes geared toward healthcare professionals offer digestible lessons on how AI can enhance your work without overwhelming you with code. These online courses are often self-paced, so you can fit them into your schedule without stress. And once you've completed a course, you'll likely have a certification to show for it, which could even enhance your credentials. Whether you're curious about improving data analysis or looking to understand how AI can augment patient care, there’s a course out there to match your goals.

There are a few free and easy to follow online courses I’d like to recommend:

1. "AI for Everyone" by DeepLearning.AI on Coursera. A non-technical course covering AI basics and its potential impact on various fields, including psychology.
2. "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" by IBM on edX. It covers fundamental AI concepts and applications, suitable for beginners in any field.
3. "Elements of AI" by University of Helsinki. It’s a series of free online courses designed to demystify AI for non-technical audiences.
4. "Machine Learning for All" by University of London on Coursera. Introduces machine learning concepts without requiring programming knowledge.
5. "Ethics of AI" by University of Helsinki. Explores ethical issues surrounding AI, crucial for psychologists considering AI implementation.
6. "Beginner: Introduction to Generative AI" by Google. This learning path provides an overview of generative AI concepts, from the fundamentals of large language models to responsible AI principles.

7. Start Using AI in Your Practice

You don’t have to wait until you’re an AI expert to start integrating it into your daily work. The best way to learn is often by doing. Start with simple AI tools that are designed to help, not complicate, your workflow. For example, if you're a therapist, you might explore using AI chatbots to enhance client communication or use sentiment analysis to better understand how a client is progressing between sessions. If you're more research-oriented, AI tools can streamline the process of analyzing large data sets or uncover patterns you might otherwise miss. By introducing AI in small, manageable ways, you'll start to see how it can enhance both your productivity and the quality of your work.?

8. Join an AI Project

Collaborating on an AI project is one of the most hands-on ways to immerse yourself in the technology. You don’t have to go it alone—there are many opportunities for psychologists to contribute to AI projects, especially those focused on mental health, behavioral studies, or data interpretation. Platforms like GitHub host open-source projects where AI developers are often looking for domain experts to join in. For instance, you could work with a team developing AI tools for mental health assessments, offering your psychological expertise to fine-tune algorithms or suggest more nuanced ways to analyze patient data. Similarly, academic research teams are increasingly incorporating AI into studies of human behavior, and they need professionals who can help design experiments and interpret results. By collaborating on projects like these, you'll not only expand your understanding of AI but also learn how to apply it directly to your field.

For example, we are building a AI focused organisational diagnostic and employee wellbeing tool… And you are more than welcome to jump onboard with us!!!

9. Collaborate with AI Startups

AI startups are where innovation happens fast. Many are working on projects that could revolutionize healthcare, mental health, and human behavior—fields that align closely with psychology. Collaborating with these companies offers you a front-row seat to the development of cutting-edge tools. For example, some startups are creating AI-driven apps to help with mood tracking or anxiety management, while others are developing platforms that use machine learning to predict patient outcomes. These startups often need the insights of psychologists to ensure their tools are grounded in real-world practice. Whether you're offering advice on user behavior or helping fine-tune how AI interprets emotional data, your expertise could help shape the next generation of AI tools. Plus, you'll get a deep understanding of the practical challenges and benefits of integrating AI into your practice.

10. Build Your Own AI-Assisted Tools

If you're ready to take a more ambitious step, why not build your own AI-assisted tool? You don’t have to be a programmer to make this happen. Thanks to no-code platforms like Bubble.io or Builder.ai, non-technical professionals can develop their own apps or tools with minimal coding. Let’s say you’ve been thinking about creating an AI tool that helps therapists monitor patient progress through automated mood tracking, or a tool that assists with cognitive behavioral therapy sessions. Partner with a developer, or use these no-code tools to bring your idea to life. AI can help you scale your services in ways that weren’t possible before—whether it's analyzing data from client interactions or automating parts of the therapeutic process. The possibilities are as broad as your imagination.

A few nice resources you can use:

1. How to build our own custom GPT agent.
2. How to fine tune a LLM (in this case LLAMA) for your own personal purposes, like diagnostics, report writing, text classification.
3. How to use Make.com to Automate your practice!

Conclusion: Start Small, Think Big

AI is here, and it’s changing the way professionals work. But you don’t need a degree in computer science to get started. For psychologists, embracing AI can lead to more efficient practices, better patient care, and new insights in research. By taking small steps—like exploring AI tools, following trends, or connecting with AI-driven communities—you can position yourself at the forefront of these exciting changes. The key is to remain curious, open-minded, and proactive. Whether you're a clinical psychologist, a researcher, or a consultant, AI is an invaluable resource waiting for you to explore.

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