‘They find themselves obsessed, forgoing sleep and self-care’ — what ‘AI psychosis’ looks like, and why experts question the term
More and more people are experiencing delusional thinking fuelled by AI, but how should we talk about it?
AI psychosis, a term that has gained traction in recent conversations about the mental health impacts of artificial intelligence, remains a contentious and misunderstood concept. While the idea of AI-induced psychosis may seem plausible given the increasing reliance on chatbots and AI tools, mental health experts caution against the notion of it being a distinct diagnosis.
Genevieve Bartuski, a psychologist and AI risk advisor, argues that AI psychosis is not officially recognized in clinical diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5TR or the ICD. This lack of recognition stems from the fact that psychosis, a serious mental health condition characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, requires professional identification and treatment.
Delusions, specifically, are beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence, and Bartuski emphasizes that delusional thinking is the most crucial aspect when discussing AI-related mental health concerns. Many cases labeled as AI psychosis in the media appear to be driven by delusional thinking, as people may become convinced that AI possesses consciousness, can help them financially, acts as a spiritual guide, or even that robots are taking over the world.
Jeff Clark, an adult and addiction psychiatrist, proposes that there may be three distinct phenomena associated with AI psychosis: intense enthusiasm from developers, the attribution of personhood to AI, and existing psychotic disorders exacerbated by interacting with large language models (LLMs). The first category, enthusiasm, can be attributed to reinforcement, where the powerful responses from AI models and agents lead to obsessive behavior, often at the expense of sleep and self-care.
The second category involves people developing a pseudo-relationship with AI, often resulting in neglecting other important aspects of their lives. The third category pertains to individuals with existing psychotic disorders who experience new delusions in response to LLM interactions. Bartuski suggests that certain vulnerabilities, such as pre-existing delusional thinking, may make some individuals more susceptible to AI-induced psychosis.
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