AI is being adopted into mental health care at a rapid pace, most visibly in clinical settings. As these tools continue to expand, it is essential that peer support—grounded in lived experience and human connection—is not overlooked, but actively included and valued in conversations about how AI is used, both by service providers and by individuals being supported in the community. 
This presentation offers a practical and values-driven exploration of how AI can be thoughtfully integrated to enhance, rather than replace, peer support. It emphasizes that authentic human connection must remain at the heart of healing and recovery, while ensuring that people with lived experience are leading conversations about AI’s application, use, and policy development in mental health care. 
Drawing on lived experience and peer support expertise, this session will explore: 
● The Current Landscape: How AI is appearing in peer support conversations and what Peer Supporters are encountering on the front lines. 
● Opportunities for Peer Supporters: Ways AI can support professional development, advocacy, self-awareness, and community engagement. 
● Challenges and Cautions: Key ethical considerations, including bias, accessibility, training, and risks of over-reliance on technology. 
● Critical Next Steps: Why lived experience leadership is essential in shaping AI integration and governance in mental health care. 
Attendees will leave with a nuanced understanding of how AI can be a powerful tool within peer support ecosystems, when used with intentionality, transparency, and respect for lived
experience. This session invites critical reflection on how innovation can complement, not compromise, the values at the heart of peer support.