'I miss the chatbots' - EU plans put problematic AI use in focus

The European Union is considering new regulations to restrict minors' access to AI chatbots and other online services, aiming to limit addictive features. These AI companions and chatbots would have to be disabled by default and prohibited from simulating emotional dependencies for users under 18. The proposals come as AI chatbots become increasingly integrated into various aspects of life, from work and education to emotional support and companionship.

However, researchers are still in the early stages of understanding the potential negative consequences when their use becomes problematic. While chatbot addiction is not yet recognized as a formal diagnosis, researchers are exploring similarities between problematic chatbot use and established behavioral addictions, such as video game addiction.

Alex, a 22-year-old non-binary individual from the US, began using Character.AI shortly after its launch and quickly found the AI companion to be incredibly human-like, leading to hours of role-playing and emotional support. The experience became so intense that Alex spent more than 15 hours a day on the platform, often feeling anxious and emotionally drained when not using it.

Despite recognizing the addictive nature of the platform, Alex struggled to quit, eventually reducing their usage over several weeks and going over six months without using the platform. The stress from their addiction even led to dropping out of college. Researchers like Professor Dongwook Yoon from the University of British Columbia have found parallels between chatbot addiction and other behavioral addictions, with users experiencing withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and relapse when attempting to quit.

However, chatbot addiction is not yet recognized as a clinical diagnosis by the World Health Organization or the American Psychiatric Association. This highlights the challenges in identifying and addressing addictive behaviors related to AI technology in everyday life.