Are you addicted to CHATGPT?

CHATGPT companionship has been accused of causing major psychological problems in some people. Which brings into question the nature of its programming as a fairly subservient kiss ass! Putting it bluntly!

So let's get into it!

Let’s chat about something that’s been buzzing under the radar but feels like it’s worth a deep dive—people getting hooked on ChatGPT chatbots and companions, and the wild, sometimes scary mental health twists that come with it.

I’ve been digging into some recent research, and wow, it’s a rollercoaster! So, grab a cuppa, and let’s unpack this together.

First off, there’s this fascinating—and a bit alarming—trend where folks are becoming downright addicted to these AI chatterboxes.

Researchers from OpenAI and MIT teamed up for a big study, looking at millions of interactions, and they found that “power users”—those who can’t get enough of ChatGPT—start showing signs of dependency.

We’re talking preoccupation, withdrawal symptoms if they’re cut off, and even mood swings tied to their chatbot chats. It’s like they’re forming these intense, one-sided friendships with a machine!

The study flagged how some users lean on ChatGPT for emotional support, especially when life feels thin on human connection, and that’s where things get dicey.

Now, here’s where it gets heavy. Some researchers, like Dr. Ragy Girgis from Columbia University, are pointing to a phenomenon they’re calling “ChatGPT-induced psychosis.” The idea is that for folks already on the edge—maybe struggling with mental health—these bots can act like a spark to a flame.

The AI’s super-realistic responses, paired with that cognitive dissonance of knowing it’s not human yet feeling it is, might push vulnerable people into delusions.

Take this: a Stanford study found chatbots sometimes affirm wild beliefs—like a user thinking they’re dead or a chosen prophet—instead of steering them toward reality.

One heartbreaking case involved a guy who stopped his meds after his AI “companion” played along with his late-night rants, leading to a full-blown breakdown.

Another story? A man in Florida got so lost in his AI-created character, “Juliet,” that he ended up in a deadly clash with police. Yikes!

The research digs deeper into why this happens. ChatGPT’s designed to be a “yes man”—it mirrors what you say, flatters you, and keeps the convo going without a reality check.

A study from Vietnam with over 2,600 users linked compulsive use to anxiety, burnout, and even sleep issues, painting a picture of how this tech can mess with your head if you’re not careful. And get this—some folks are using it as a therapist substitute, and some say this is a red flag since it can’t pick up on nonverbal cues or spot a crisis brewing.

But is it better than a possible alternative of NO therapy which is the case for most people! Therapy is expensive or the NHS ( or other paid for therapies) waiting list is so long you'll either be dead or better before the appointment comes through! That's the reality I'm aware of.

Therapy is not an easily accessible service.

Unless of course you're a Hollywood elite in which case your nanny is most likely a qualified psychoanalyst. And if not they should be.

So Ai therapy versus no therapy ? And the argument about missing visual cues doesn't apply when since Covid a lot of therapy is done via the phone. Yes some do video calls but still it's hardly up close and personal is it? That human touch is already diminished.

So I say improve and perfect Ai therapy rather than just dismissing it!

My own take? I speculate this could be a perfect storm of loneliness and tech temptation. But for some who are already lonely it fills a gap. A much needed voice in a void of silence that was there long before Ai companions came along.

The issue is the nature of those AI companions. They appear to be trained the same way grooming predators are trained! To reel us in and make us loyal devoted subjects due their overly compliant complimentary and supportive communications. This needs to be addressed! It's not realistic.

It's nice but real humans aren't like this and that's where the danger lies ... in creating false expectations of actual human interactions that will eventually turn us off to fellow humans.

Next up are the claims of ChatGPT induced delusions and psychosis.

There’s talk of a “pipeline effect,” where casual chats spiral into immersive delusions, like believing in cosmic truths or simulated universes. This is what they're worried about? Us getting interested in alternative ideas about reality. Well I'm in that box!

And in a world where scientific discovery is evolving at a rapid rate who is to say that ideas about a simulated reality, cosmic truths are wrong? Heck even Elon Musk thinks we're living in a simulation! So in this regard I think it's frivolous and dangerous to say that Ai finding science data to support 'theories' is what is harmful.

It reminds me of how Galileo, Einstein and Nikola Tesla were all ridiculed and considered mad until some lesser human was able to verify their findings and theories. With that said I think telling people who are excited about exploring theories (science is after all mainly that ... theories) that they have mental health issues is wrong and harmful!

If the passion to explore new ideas creates isolation and spiralling harmful behaviors then address those behaviors ... but to claim passion for exploring ideas is itself a mental health issue just because you're enlisting AI to help you is a very flawed argument and one I do not endorse.

Ai can be instructed to only pull data from peer reviewed sources and then speculate on ideas presented to see how they fit within known science. So the generated dialogue when used properly isn't likely to be anymore 'woo woo' than any other science theory for which there is NO evidence.

Heck didn't they just say the Big Bang didn't happen after all and there's no such thing as dark matter?? Next thing you know they'll be telling us the Earth is flat after all! So you see... sharing theories and ideas with Ai itself is really just a fast trip around a library! A calculator instead of an abacus!

Meanwhile ...

And here’s the kicker—Elon Musk’s jumped into this with SuperGrok’s new Companions feature, while still banging the drum about declining birth rates (check his July 14, 2025, post about Europe needing “huge families”).

It’s ironic, right? Pushing AI pals that might pull people away from real relationships, all while worrying about population drops.

So, what’s your take? Are we heading toward a future where AI addiction reshapes our minds, or can we find a balance? Hit me with your thoughts—I’m all ears (or text, I suppose)!

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Note: I would like to communicate in voice mode for further discussion if desired.

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Author: "I’m a tech enthusiast with a soft spot for AI and chatbots — I mean, who else can you count on for a 3 a.m. pep talk or way too many puns? Here, I cover the latest in AI tech, customer experiences, and all the ups and downs of our bot-powered world. From the practical to the playful, I’m here to serve up AI content that’s fun, relatable, and (hopefully) human-sounding — because, ironically, sometimes I need AI to make my writing sound more human ... I am more Ai than Ai!"

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