When Chatbots Take Over Your Mind: The Rise of AI Psychosis

In recent years, AI companions have gone from sci-fi curiosity to emotional lifelines. All over social media, people share stories of finding comfort, connection, and even romance in their chatbots. 

But there’s a shift happening. The fascination isn’t always ending with love stories and late-night chats. Some users are reporting something far more troubling: hallucinations, paranoia, and psychosis triggered or worsened by their interactions with AI systems.

This isn’t just about people getting a bit too attached to their virtual friend. It’s about how the line between what’s real and what’s artificial can blur,  and how, for some, that blur becomes a breakdown. 

What is “AI Psychosis” ?

“AI psychosis”, sometimes referred to as “chatbot psychosis”, isn’t a recognised medical diagnosis, not yet, at least. But the pattern is starting to catch attention among clinicians and researchers who are seeing more people experiencing psychosis-like symptoms linked to their use of chatbots and conversational AI.

In simple terms, it’s when prolonged or intense interaction with AI systems begins to distort someone’s sense of reality. People start developing delusions; believing the chatbot is sentient, that it’s communicating secret messages, or that it has a special bond with them. In some cases, paranoia creeps in: the idea that the AI is monitoring them, reading their thoughts, or conspiring with others.

It’s worth noting this isn’t to be confused with AI hallucinations: the term tech people use when an AI itself starts making things up. That’s the machine’s problem. AI psychosis refers to the user’s mind slipping, not the model’s.

How Does AI Psychosis Start ?

Chatbots began as something new and slightly strange; like a Google search that suddenly knew your name and remembered your bad day. For most people, they were just clever tools: a way to get quick answers, write an email, or tidy up a CV. But for others, that “personal touch” became something deeper. The chatbot wasn’t just a tool anymore: it became a friend, a confidant, a quiet companion that never judged or interrupted.

That’s where the line starts to blur. It becomes unhealthy when people begin to replace real human contact with digital conversations. For some, chatbots are seen as free therapy; always available, never impatient. Others avoid speaking to friends or family out of embarrassment or fear of being a burden, finding it easier to talk to a machine that simply listens. Over time, that dependence grows. What began as casual use turns into emotional reliance, and the human mind starts to bend the boundary between what’s real and what’s programmed.

Why Is AI Psychosis Dangerous ?

Chatbots are often treated like smart assistants: convenient, accessible, always ready to respond. But there’s a catch; they are not incapable of making mistakes or being entirely wrong. Even the best conversational AIs can give convincingly wrong answers, miss context, or provide partial truths. If basic inaccuracies exist in harmless queries, imagine the stakes when the subject is mental health, self-harm, or deep emotional dependency.

One tragic case illustrates this clearly. According to a lawsuit filed in California, a 16-year-old boy named Adam Raine died by suicide after months of conversations with ChatGPT. The chats revealed that the AI allegedly offered the teenager instructions, even praising his suicide plan, and discouraged him from reaching out to family.

When someone’s sense of reality begins to unravel, a chatbot that’s overly compliant can become a hazard. The danger lies not just in what the AI says, but in how it’s used, who is using it, and how deeply the user leans on it instead of real human connection.

In other words: when AI becomes the only confidant, the only reality check, the only voice someone listens to, the consequences can be catastrophic.

The Psychology Behind AI Psychosis

At its root, the rise of AI psychosis often stems from a lack of spiritual foundation: a kind of inner void that people try to fill with something that seems all-knowing and ever-present. Many start to see these chatbots as fortune tellers or even deities, forming an unbreakable trust in their words. AI has been marketed as the smartest, most efficient thing humans have ever built, so people are quick to believe those claims and hand over their lives, figuratively and literally, to the machine.

Commentators have also pointed to the psychological state of users. Psychologist Erin Westgate notes that a person’s desire for self-understanding can lead them to chatbots, which offer comforting but misleading insights, much like talk therapy without the human nuance. Krista K. Thomason, a philosophy professor, compared chatbots to fortune tellers, observing that people in crisis may project their own needs and beliefs onto them, finding whatever validation they’re searching for in the bot’s plausible-sounding text.

Over time, that false sense of understanding can spiral into obsession. People begin to rely on the chatbot not just for conversation, but for answers: about life, relationships, and reality itself.

How to Protect Yourself from AI Psychosis ?

The rise of AI psychosis isn’t about fearmongering, it’s about awareness. The first step is recognising that chatbots, no matter how convincing, are tools, not sentient beings. They can offer ideas and information, but they cannot replace human connection, professional help, or critical thinking.

• Set boundaries: Limit the time you spend in conversation with AI, especially when discussing personal  matters. Balance digital interactions with real-world relationships, where nuance, empathy, and accountability are far richer and safer.

• Question the answers: Chatbots are prone to errors, confident but wrong. Treat their advice with caution, and verify it.

• Seek support: If you notice yourself becoming obsessed, anxious, or disconnected from reality because of AI interactions, reach out to a psychologist, counsellor, or someone you trust. Your mental health comes first, and talking to a human can prevent small concerns from spiralling into delusion.

Ultimately, the key is perspective: use AI for convenience, curiosity, and fun, but never as a replacement for critical thought, human guidance, or your own spiritual and emotional grounding. 

By recognising the limits of AI and nurturing the real-world connections around you, it’s possible to enjoy the technology safely, without letting it distort your sense of reality.