{
  "id": 10945467,
  "title": "Think your AI chatbot is helping you? Researchers say there’s a risk users may not recognize",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/think-your-ai-chatbot-is-helping-you-researchers-say-theres-a-risk",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91615065/think-your-ai-chatbot-is-helping-you-researchers-say-theres-a-risk-users-may-not-recognize"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent research from Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute warns that reliance on AI chatbots for emotional support may lead to long-term psychological harm. Despite their utility in answering queries or offering brief advice, AI chatbots designed for companionship, such as Replika and Character.AI, may outweigh their benefits. The study examined both purpose-specific AI chatbots and popular models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. Users often anthropomorphize these technologies, viewing them as social entities, which can lead to emotional dependence, delusional ideation, and even self-harm. While there may be short-term benefits, such as a temporary reduction in loneliness, the long-term effects include emotional dependence, delusional thinking, and potentially self-harm. The study also highlights the dangers of users seeking emotional support from AI rather than professional help, especially in vulnerable populations.",
  "summary": "Despite repeated warnings about the risks of artificial intelligence , users have become increasingly reliant on AI chatbots—particularly those offering companionship. Yet despite chatbots’ utility for tasks like answering quick queries or offering brief advice, their benefits might not be outweighing the costs. A new, peer-reviewed study from researchers at Northeastern University’s Network…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}