Chatbot Psychosis

Are AI chatbots giving rise to a new mental health risk? “Chatbot psychosis” — not yet present in the clinical literature but increasingly debated — may be the digital age's new mental health problem.

“Chatbot psychosis,” which has recently begun to be discussed publicly, points to the possibility that intense and prolonged interaction with AI chatbots may distort individuals' perception of reality. It is noted that users with a fragile psychological structure in particular struggle to distinguish the line between real and virtual, and that this can trigger serious mental health risks such as anxiety, paranoia and psychotic symptoms.

Uncontrolled and Improper Use Creates New Risks

Opinion AI CTO Burhan İnal, drawing attention to AI's transformative potential in healthcare, assesses the matter as follows:

“AI solutions offer groundbreaking opportunities in the healthcare sector, from early diagnosis to personalized treatment. However, the uncontrolled and improper use of these technologies also brings new risks. What we call chatbot psychosis can emerge when AI is not designed safely and lacks ethical boundaries and user awareness. For us, the most critical point in the field of healthcare is to implement these solutions while considering human psychology and safety.”

Joint Action Must Be Taken Against the Risks

Stating that managing these risks requires broad collaboration — from technology developers to regulatory bodies — Burhan İnal adds:

“First of all, it is essential that the clinical and psychological effects of AI chatbots be monitored regularly through independent research. In addition, developers need to add security layers to algorithms and build mechanisms that detect and redirect users' risky behaviors. It is of great importance that regulatory bodies rapidly put domain-specific ethical and safety standards into effect. As technology companies, we must also place the principles of transparency, auditability and user safety at the center of our work. While using AI's benefits for the good of society, proactively managing psychological risks is our responsibility.

Although the concept of chatbot psychosis is not yet present in the clinical literature, it must be monitored carefully as a rising phenomenon of the digital age. Alongside the opportunities AI technologies offer, such risks must not be overlooked; technology companies, health professionals and regulators need to act together.”