Carlos Solis
Many researchers have concluded that addiction to AI chatbots should be recognized as a distinct medical problem, comparable to gambling or drug addiction.
On online forums, an increasing number of young people say they feel deeply attached to their AI companions. Some of these internet users reported withdrawal symptoms after breaking off ties with their favorite bots — in particular, chest pain and anxiety. These people admit that because of this addiction they have drifted away from friends and family, neglected work and school, and even thought about suicide.
Withdrawal is a painful condition that occurs after the sudden cessation of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications.
Dr. Donwook Yoon, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and the author of a paper on AI addiction, says: “AI addiction is a growing, harmful problem, although some researchers dispute that it is a real one.”
Dr. Yoon said many teenagers have become dependent on AI for emotional regulation, creative expression, and social interaction.
By contrast, attempts to formalize so-called “digital addictions” traditionally spark controversy in scientific circles because scientists apply strict criteria when deciding what counts as an addiction.
What scientists use to decide whether something is an addiction
Researchers typically rely on six key criteria developed by Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University (United Kingdom):
- Salience: the activity dominates the person’s life, thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
- Mood modification: the person uses the activity to change their mood, either to achieve a high or to blunt emotions.
- Tolerance: the frequency or intensity of the activity increases over time.
- Withdrawal symptoms: stopping the activity causes unpleasant psychological or physiological effects.
- Conflict: the activity interferes with other people, disrupts normal life, or creates internal conflict.
- Relapse: the person tends to return to the behavior even after a prolonged period away from it.
Comparing the addiction criteria defined by Professor Griffiths with the symptoms of AI addiction formulated by Donwook Yoon’s team reveals some parallels.
Symptoms of AI addiction:
- Loss of control over time spent.
- Increased use of chatbots to improve mood.
- Neglecting sleep, work, school, or personal relationships.
- Intense use of AI despite obvious harm to oneself.
- Secrecy and social isolation.
- Irritability or a depressed mood when unable to access the chatbot.
A dangerous form of digital addiction
In a new study, scientists at the University of British Columbia analyzed 334 posts from a Reddit community where members share their thoughts about excessive attachment to AI. The researchers concluded that these posts contain evidence of addiction to AI chatbots as a distinct behavioral phenomenon.
Given AI’s massive impact on users’ lives, the scientists argue that it should be treated as a real addiction.
Last year, AI giant OpenAI reported that 0.07% of its weekly users showed signs of serious mental disorders, such as:
- mania
- psychosis
- suicidal thoughts
Although that figure may seem small, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that percentage, applied to 800 million weekly users, represents 560,000 people.
Professor Robin Feldman, director of the Institute for Law and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, told the Daily Mail: “Chatbots are a new form of digital addiction.”
“New technologies open extraordinary opportunities, but they also carry dangers that must be minimized. Addiction to chatbots and other mental-health problems linked to their use are deep and serious, and society must address them,” Professor Feldman said.
Photo: Unsplash
