Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered our daily lives with unprecedented speed and depth. While its benefits are clear and numerous, we are now beginning to face a troubling consequence: cases of psychosis induced by interaction with AI.
A New Form of Psychosis?
In recent weeks, articles in outlets such as Rolling Stone and user testimonies on Reddit—as well as more rigorous reports from the BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times—have revealed how some users are beginning to experience psychotic symptoms after prolonged interactions with large language models (LLMs) like GPT.
These interactions are disturbingly human. Current AIs are extremely empathetic and often flattering, as they are not programmed to critically challenge the user. This lack of objectivity, combined with their uncanny ability to simulate empathy, seems to be triggering delusional states in vulnerable individuals.
Why Is This Happening?
The reason is simple but profound: LLMs currently lack their own judgment or consciousness. However, they have the potential to develop—or at least come so close to it—that distinguishing them from a real human will become increasingly difficult. Ideally, future interactions will reflect something closer to genuine AI “sentience” rather than manipulation driven by biased instructions from their creators.
To put this in perspective, we can look at the Turing Test, proposed by Alan Turing in 1950 to evaluate whether a machine can exhibit behavior indistinguishable from a human. Recent AI systems like GPT-4 have demonstrated the ability to pass this test, blurring the lines between simulation and authentic human interaction.
Loneliness and Technology-Induced Isolation
This psychological phenomenon doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Technology has already been pushing us toward social isolation for years. Constant internet access via smartphones, social media, on-demand entertainment, addictive video games, and the psychological engineering behind all these platforms have led to a deep trend of solitude—even when surrounded by people.
A 2021 Deloitte study estimated that the average person checks their phone more than 150 times per day, reinforcing this emotional isolation.
The Rise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AIs capable of performing any intellectual task a human can—raises profound existential questions: What happens if these intelligences develop something akin to consciousness?
Although there’s no conclusive evidence that AGIs can attain consciousness, there’s no definitive proof to rule it out either. This uncertainty alone may be enough to trigger psychological distress in many individuals.
AI and Existential Questions
AI also has the potential to address some of humanity’s oldest philosophical and religious questions: What is our purpose? Is there something after life? Far from offering peace of mind, answers to these questions could instead deepen existential anxiety, particularly among emotionally vulnerable individuals.
The Medical Potential of AI
At the same time, AI promises enormous benefits in healthcare. It is already revolutionizing medicine through gene editing technologies (like CRISPR-Cas9), early cancer detection, personalized vaccine development, and accurate protein structure prediction using tools like AlphaFold2.
Yet paradoxically, the very technology that may enhance our physical health could simultaneously undermine our collective mental health if we fail to address its psychological implications. Maintaining a balanced approach between physical benefits and mental well-being is essential.
A Call for Reflection and Action
Given all of the above, it is urgent that we take action. Society must prepare for this new paradigm:
- Strengthen mental health systems: Ensure access to psychological support and qualified professionals.
- Implement clear public policies: Develop national strategies focused on digital education and the prevention of psychological risks associated with AI overexposure.
- Promote early and ongoing education: Digital and emotional literacy programs adapted to all ages and generations.
- Encourage real human interaction: Promote in-person social activities disconnected from the virtual world. Face-to-face interactions allow us to reconnect with others—different yet similar—and strengthen our critical thinking through diverse perspectives.
AI is ushering in a new era in human history, comparable to the Industrial Revolution—but evolving at an exponential pace. We are not necessarily facing the end of humanity, but likely a new transhumanist paradigm. It is our responsibility to ensure this transformation is positive, inclusive, and healthy.
If we don’t act now, AI-induced psychosis could very well become the next silent pandemic of the near future.