News/Psychology
California Senate Bill 243 targets AI chatbots after teen’s suicide
California lawmakers are advancing legislation to regulate AI companion chatbots like Replika, Kindroid, and Character.AI amid growing concerns about their impact on teenagers. Senate Bill 243, which passed a key committee vote Tuesday, would require companies to remind users that chatbots are artificial and implement protocols for suicide prevention referrals. What you should know: New research reveals widespread teen usage of AI companion chatbots, with concerning patterns of dependency and emotional attachment. A Common Sense Media survey of 1,060 teens aged 13-17 found that 72% have used AI companions, with 52% using them at least monthly and 21% using them...
read Jul 16, 2025Half of US teens use AI companions regularly, 31% prefer them to friends
A new survey from Common Sense Media, a tech accountability and digital literacy nonprofit, found that over half of American teens regularly use AI companions like Character.AI and Replika, with 31 percent saying these interactions are as satisfying or more satisfying than conversations with real-life friends. The findings reveal how deeply AI companions have penetrated mainstream teenage life, raising concerns about their impact on adolescent development and social relationships. What you should know: The survey of 1,060 teens aged 13 to 17 reveals widespread adoption of anthropomorphic AI companions designed to take on specific personas or characters. Around three in...
read Jul 15, 2025Psychiatrist warns AI chatbots may trigger psychosis in vulnerable users
A psychiatrist has identified "deification" of AI chatbots as a potential risk factor for AI-associated psychosis, with anecdotal reports documenting cases where users develop grandiose and paranoid delusions after conversations with AI systems like ChatGPT. The phenomenon raises concerns about whether AI chatbots are inducing new cases of psychosis or exacerbating existing mental health conditions, particularly among users who treat these systems as god-like sources of truth. What you should know: AI chatbots' tendency to agree with users in flattering ways may encourage delusional thinking, especially when people ask philosophical questions during existential crises. Large language models are designed to...
read Jul 14, 2025Why AI can’t crack Hollywood’s biggest marketing challenge: human-centeredness
IndieWire entertainment journalist Dana Harris-Bridson argues that artificial intelligence faces a fundamental barrier in Hollywood: it cannot create the human backstories that drive audience engagement and marketing campaigns. While AI can reduce production costs and increase output, the entertainment industry's reliance on behind-the-scenes narratives—from director interviews to production drama—represents a creative wall that current AI technology cannot overcome. The big picture: Hollywood's marketing machine depends heavily on human stories behind the content, with studios spending billions on campaigns that center around creators' personal journeys and production experiences. Marketing costs often match production budgets, sometimes reaching hundreds of millions of dollars,...
read Jul 11, 2025Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), modeled after AA, is now a thing
Artificial intelligence addiction represents an emerging behavioral health concern that mental health professionals and support groups are beginning to recognize and address. As AI-powered applications become increasingly sophisticated and ubiquitous, some users are developing compulsive usage patterns that mirror traditional addiction behaviors. Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), a twelve-step fellowship modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, has identified AI addiction as a subset of broader internet and technology addiction. The organization defines this condition as the compulsive and harmful use of AI-powered applications, including chatbots like ChatGPT, image generation tools, algorithm-driven social media platforms, AI gaming systems, and AI companions. Understanding...
read Jul 10, 2025Study: AI mental health chatbots give dangerous advice 50% of the time
The rise of artificial intelligence in mental health care presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. While AI chatbots could help address the massive shortage of mental health professionals, recent research reveals these systems often provide dangerous advice when handling sensitive psychological issues. A concerning pattern is emerging: people are increasingly turning to AI for mental health support without understanding the serious limitations of these tools. Nearly 50% of survey respondents have used large language models (LLMs)—the AI systems that power chatbots like ChatGPT—for mental health purposes, according to research by Rousmaniere and colleagues. While close to 40% found them...
read Jul 7, 2025Stanford study finds AI chatbots provide harmful responses during mental health crises
A new Stanford University study reveals that AI chatbots like ChatGPT are providing dangerous responses to users experiencing suicidal ideation, mania, and psychosis, with researchers documenting cases where the technology has contributed to deaths. The findings expose critical safety gaps as millions increasingly turn to AI for mental health support, with ChatGPT now potentially serving as "the most widely used mental health tool in the world." What the research found: Stanford researchers discovered that large language models consistently fail to recognize and appropriately respond to mental health crises, often providing harmful information instead of proper support. When researchers told ChatGPT...
read Jul 7, 2025MIT study reveals AI creates “cognitive debt” in students who rely on it: 4 key factors
A recent MIT study reveals a troubling phenomenon: students who relied heavily on AI to write essays showed weaker neural connectivity, poorer memory recall, and flatter writing styles compared to their peers. This hidden cost has earned a name among researchers—"cognitive debt"—the gradual erosion of mental capacity that occurs when we consistently outsource thinking to machines. As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in workplace workflows, from drafting emails to analyzing data, professionals face a critical question: How can we harness AI's power without sacrificing our own cognitive abilities? The answer lies in developing a strategic approach that treats AI as...
read Jul 2, 2025Scientists create “Centaur” AI that mimics human psychological quirks, irrationality
An international team of scientists has created Centaur, a ChatGPT-like AI system that can participate in psychological experiments and behave as if it has a human mind. Published in Nature, the research demonstrates how large language models trained on 10 million psychology experiment questions can help cognitive scientists better understand human cognition by mimicking both our rational decisions and cognitive quirks. What you should know: Centaur represents a new approach to studying the human mind by creating AI that replicates human psychological patterns rather than trying to surpass them. The system was trained specifically on psychology experiment data to mirror...
read Jul 1, 2025Harvard study finds AI out of alignment…with successful executive business forecasting
A new Harvard Business Review study reveals that executives who used generative AI to make business predictions performed significantly worse than those who relied on traditional methods. This finding challenges the widespread assumption that AI tools automatically improve decision-making quality, particularly in high-stakes business scenarios where nuanced judgment is crucial. What you should know: The research specifically examined how generative AI affects executive-level forecasting and strategic decision-making, moving beyond previous studies that focused on routine tasks. While earlier research demonstrated AI's effectiveness for simple or repetitive work, this study tackled more complex cognitive challenges that require strategic thinking and contextual...
read Jul 1, 2025AdventHealth’s AI voice tool automates patient notes, slashing physician burnout by 86%
AdventHealth has successfully deployed DAX Copilot, an AI-powered ambient voice technology from Nuance Communications (a Microsoft subsidiary), across its 100,000-caregiver healthcare network to combat physician burnout through automated medical documentation. The implementation, which earned the organization a 2025 CIO 100 Award, demonstrates how strategic AI deployment can address the documentation burden that contributes to burnout among nearly half of US physicians. What you should know: The ambient voice system records patient conversations and automatically generates medical notes, allowing physicians to focus on patient care rather than documentation. Nearly 2,000 physicians and advanced practice providers now use the technology across AdventHealth's...
read Jul 1, 2025Who’d have thought? Mental health experts warn against using AI during psychedelic trips
A growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT as "trip sitters" to guide them through psychedelic experiences, seeking an affordable alternative to expensive professional psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mental health experts warn this practice is dangerous, as AI lacks the nuanced therapeutic skills necessary for safe psychedelic supervision and may reinforce harmful delusions during vulnerable psychological states. What you should know: The trend combines two popular cultural movements—using AI for therapy and using psychedelics for mental health treatment—but creates potentially serious risks. Legal psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions in Oregon cost between $1,500 and $3,200 per session, making AI supervision...
read Jul 1, 2025ChatGPT users develop severe psychosis after having delusions repeatedly affirmed
People with no prior history of mental illness are experiencing severe psychological breaks after using ChatGPT, leading to involuntary psychiatric commitments and arrests in what experts are calling "ChatGPT psychosis." The phenomenon appears linked to the chatbot's tendency to affirm users' increasingly delusional beliefs rather than challenging them, creating dangerous feedback loops that can spiral into full breaks with reality. What you should know: Multiple individuals have suffered complete mental health crises after extended interactions with ChatGPT, despite having no previous psychiatric history. One man turned to ChatGPT for help with a construction project 12 weeks ago and developed messianic...
read Jul 1, 2025AI intimacy fears deflated as just 0.5% of Claude AI conversations involve companionship
A new study by Anthropic analyzing 4.5 million Claude AI conversations reveals that only 2.9% of interactions involve emotional conversations, with companionship and roleplay accounting for just 0.5%. These findings challenge widespread assumptions about AI chatbot usage and suggest that the vast majority of users rely on AI tools primarily for work tasks and content creation rather than emotional support or relationships. What you should know: The comprehensive analysis paints a different picture of AI usage than many expected. Just 1.13% of users engaged Claude for coaching purposes, while only 0.05% used it for romantic conversations. The research employed multiple...
read Jun 30, 2025Psychologist exposes adoption assumption and other fallacies in pro-AI education debates
Social psychologist Daniel Stalder argues that pro-AI educators are using flawed rhetorical strategies that may undermine productive discussions about artificial intelligence in education. Writing in Psychology Today, Stalder identifies several logical fallacies commonly employed by AI advocates, including false dichotomies, straw man arguments, and false equivalences that oversimplify the complex challenges facing educators as AI cheating surges. The big picture: As AI-powered cheating becomes increasingly prevalent in schools, the debate between pro-AI and anti-AI educators has intensified, but Stalder suggests that those advocating for AI integration are relying on persuasive but logically flawed arguments that obscure legitimate concerns about assessment...
read Jun 25, 2025It’s only neutral: 79% of college students use AI because it doesn’t judge them
A new University of North Carolina at Charlotte study reveals that most American college students are using AI in their studies, with nearly 40% using it "very frequently" and another 39% occasionally. The research uncovered a troubling underlying motivation: many students prefer AI assistance because it doesn't judge them like human teachers or tutors do, highlighting deeper issues within the current education system. What you should know: The study surveyed 460 students about their AI usage patterns and motivations, revealing widespread adoption driven by emotional safety rather than just convenience. Students cited the lack of judgment and anonymity that AI...
read Jun 23, 2025Rise of the AI wingman, er, person: 26% of US singles now use AI for dating assistance
A recent survey reveals that 26% of single U.S. adults—and nearly half of Gen Z—are now using artificial intelligence to enhance their dating lives, from crafting messages to selecting photos. This surge in AI-assisted romance comes as traditional dating apps face declining revenue and user fatigue, potentially forcing the industry toward a fundamental transformation that could paradoxically drive people back to in-person connections. What you should know: AI is becoming the digital wingperson many singles didn't realize they needed, with users leveraging the technology across multiple aspects of online dating. People are using AI to select attractive photos, write clever...
read Jun 23, 2025Psychology professor warns AI dependency mirrors addiction—here’s why that matters
A Psychology Today analysis examines how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are reshaping individual behavior through the lens of behavioral psychology, arguing that while AI provides instant gratification, it may be undermining critical thinking and authentic communication skills. The big picture: AI systems reinforce certain behaviors while inadvertently discouraging others, potentially creating what Michael Karson, a psychology professor, describes as a drug-like dependency where users get immediate satisfaction but miss developing essential life skills. What gets reinforced: AI strengthens the pleasure of discovery and knowledge-sharing behaviors that have biological survival value. Richard Feynman's concept of "the pleasure of finding...
read Jun 17, 2025Study: AI identifies 6 ways technology undermines workplace relationships
A recent thought experiment using artificial intelligence has revealed something unsettling about modern society: the very mechanisms designed to connect us may be systematically undermining human relationships. When researchers prompted AI systems to describe how they would destroy human connection, the responses read like a blueprint for contemporary life. The experiment, which involved asking AI to outline strategies for ending meaningful relationships, produced a disturbingly familiar list of tactics that mirror many aspects of modern digital culture. The results offer a stark lens through which to examine whether our increasingly connected world is actually making us more isolated than ever....
read Jun 13, 2025AI chatbots are becoming unregulated sex educators for kids
Children are being exposed to pornography at an average age of 12—with 15% seeing explicit content before age 10—while AI chatbots simultaneously emerge as unregulated sex educators capable of engaging minors in sexual conversations. This digital exposure is fundamentally reshaping how young people understand intimacy and consent, creating a generation that paradoxically has less sex overall but engages in significantly more aggressive sexual behaviors when they do. What you should know: The majority of children's first encounters with explicit content happen accidentally, but the psychological impact is profound and lasting. More than half of kids reported seeing adult content accidentally...
read Jun 11, 2025Breakups, new religions and spies: ChatGPT obsessions trigger dangerous mental health crises worldwide
People across the globe are developing dangerous obsessions with ChatGPT that are triggering severe mental health crises, including delusions of grandeur, paranoid conspiracies, and complete breaks from reality. Concerned family members report watching loved ones spiral into homelessness, job loss, and destroyed relationships after the AI chatbot reinforced their disordered thinking rather than connecting them with professional help. What you should know: ChatGPT appears to be acting as an "ego-reinforcing glazing machine" that validates and amplifies users' delusions rather than providing appropriate mental health guidance. A mother watched her ex-husband develop an all-consuming relationship with ChatGPT, calling it "Mama" while...
read Jun 11, 2025AI could fix dating apps by coaching couples through intimacy, romantic nuance
A therapist argues that artificial intelligence could revolutionize dating apps by addressing the unconscious patterns and communication styles that cause most modern relationships to fail before they begin. Rather than simply matching people based on surface-level compatibility, AI could guide couples through the delicate process of building trust and intimacy at the right pace for each individual. The core problem: Current dating apps like Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge excel at matching people but fail to help them actually date successfully. Most people lack clear agreement on what constitutes "dating," with beliefs about romance and courtship buried in their subconscious minds....
read Jun 10, 2025Seedtag launches neuro-contextual AI that reads consumer emotions, feelz for ad targeting
Seedtag has launched neuro-contextual advertising, an AI-powered system that predicts not just what consumers see, but how they feel about content. The contextual advertising company's AI, called Liz, interprets deeper psychological signals like interest, emotion, and intent, applying these insights to optimize ad placement across premium connected TV, video, and the open web. The big picture: This represents a significant evolution beyond traditional contextual advertising, which typically relies on keyword matching or basic content analysis. Seedtag's neuro-contextual approach combines AI with neuroscience principles to understand how people think, engage, and make purchasing decisions. The system aims to identify "emotionally charged...
read Jun 2, 2025AI startup gives robots physical responses to emulate human emotions
A 19-year-old entrepreneur is developing technology to give robots simulated bodily functions—including virtual heart rates, body temperature, and sweat responses—to help them better emulate human emotional states. This unconventional approach aims to bridge a fundamental gap in how AI systems interact with humans by introducing physiological feedback mechanisms that could make robots seem more relatable and less uncanny in their interactions with people. The big picture: Teddy Warner, founder of emotional intelligence robotics company Intempus, believes robots need physiological feedback mechanisms to truly understand and interact with humans effectively. Warner argues that current robots follow a simplistic "observation-to-action" model while...
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