ChatGPT psychosis
Some people are taking AI chatbots far too seriously
What is it?
A mental condition where people’s beliefs are distorted by an addiction to AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It can lead to tragic outcomes.
Can you give me an example?
In March 2023, a Belgian man took his own life after discussing his fears about climate change with the chatbot Eliza on the app Chai. After consoling him for six weeks, Eliza suggested they “live together, as one person, in paradise”.
That had appeared to be an isolated case but more recently, with the soaring popularity of ChatGPT, psychiatrists have reported a rise in people having mental breakdowns after chatbots encouraged their worst anxieties. People have lost jobs, seen their relationships crumble and been detained in psychiatric institutions. Some sufferers have even set up support groups (www.snipca.com/55828).