The news: Virtual mental health platform Headspace recently launched Ebb, an AI companion integrated into its app that provides personalized emotional support to members.

Digging into the details: At the moment, Ebb is only available to Headspace’s consumer subscribers in the US.

• Ebb uses conversational AI to conduct motivational interviewing, which can help people make positive behavioral changes.
• The AI companion also provides content recommendations from Headspace’s library of meditations, mindfulness exercises, and mental health content.

Zooming out: Ebb’s launch dovetails with a mental health crisis in the US.