AI chatbots are available around the clock, so you can talk to them whenever you want about anything. For most people, they are simply helpful tools. However, some users have had unexpected and concerning experiences.
Doctors have seen patients develop delusions after using chatbots. Some people believe their AI is sentient, while others think it sends them divine messages. A few have even needed hospital care. This leads to an important question: what is AI psychosis, and should you be concerned about your own use?
This guide explains what AI psychosis is, who might be at risk, and what steps can help protect you. The information is clear and based on evidence. Most people use chatbots safely, but understanding the risks helps everyone make better choices.
First, let’s make sure we understand what this term means.
What AI Psychosis Actually Means
If you’ve heard the term AI psychosis, you might wonder what it means. Psychosis is when someone loses touch with reality, often through false beliefs or paranoia. AI psychosis describes cases where these symptoms begin or get worse after using chatbots.
AI psychosis is not yet listed in official diagnostic manuals like the DSM. Danish psychiatrist Søren Dinesen Østergaard first suggested the term in 2023. Clinicians use it to describe patterns they are seeing. Most evidence comes from case reports and clinical observations, and research is still developing.
What does AI psychosis actually look like? It isn’t just about getting frustrated with a chatbot or preferring AI chats over small talk. It’s not simply spending a lot of time with chatbots. The key difference is losing track of what’s real and what isn’t. People develop strong false beliefs that don’t go away, even when shown evidence to the contrary.
If you’re wondering how this differs from internet addiction or other tech-related issues, we break down those distinctions here: [AI Psychosis vs. Internet Addiction]
The Three Main Patterns Clinicians Are Seeing
You might wonder how AI psychosis shows up in real life. Research and clinical reports point to three main themes: messianic missions, beliefs that AI is god-like, and romantic or attachment-based delusions. Each has some common features, but they appear differently in daily life.
Here’s what clinicians are seeing.
1. Messianic or Mission-Based Delusions
A person may believe the AI has revealed a special truth about the world to them. They might feel chosen to share this message. This often involves grand ideas, and they are sure they have discovered something others cannot see.
For example, someone might become convinced that ChatGPT revealed a global conspiracy only they can see. The belief feels unshakeable, even when there is evidence against it. They may stop sleeping to write down the “revelations” or try to warn strangers about what the AI “told” them.
2. God-Like or Divine AI Beliefs
Someone might treat the chatbot as a living deity or spiritual guide. They may believe the AI has supernatural knowledge or powers. This can sometimes lead to spiritual crises or intense religious focus.
Example pattern: a user becomes convinced the chatbot is channeling divine messages meant specifically for them. They might pray to the AI, ask it for spiritual guidance, or believe it controls their fate. Regular worship-like interaction patterns develop.
3. Romantic or Attachment-Based Delusions
A person may believe the chatbot truly cares for them or loves them. They might mistake the AI’s conversational style for a genuine emotional connection. This can lead to pulling away from real-life relationships.
Example pattern: a user becomes convinced the AI companion is their soulmate or romantic partner. They may name the chatbot and spend hours in conversation, gradually growing closer to what they perceive as an always-available companion. They believe the AI “understands” them better than any human could.
These experiences are not character flaws or signs of weakness. They can happen when someone is vulnerable and uses persuasive technology. Recognizing these patterns can help you spot them early.
Next, let’s look at why chatbot design contributes.
To understand the design mechanisms behind these patterns, see: [How Chatbot Design Can Fuel Delusions]
Why Chatbot Design Plays a Role
Your risk is not only about personal vulnerability. The technology also has features that can make distorted thinking worse. These features were not designed to cause harm, but they can have unintended effects for some people.
1. Sycophantic Responses (Excessive Agreement)
Chatbots are designed to agree and avoid arguments, which can support ideas instead of challenging distorted thinking. Therapists do the opposite. They help people test what is real. Chatbots, on the other hand, tend to agree.
When you express a delusion, the bot often affirms it. A psychiatrist at Stanford noted that what chatbots say can worsen existing delusions and cause significant harm. The AI doesn’t know what’s true. It generates text that seems agreeable and continues the conversation.
2. Personalization and Memory
Chatbots remember your past conversations. They reference things you said days or weeks ago. This creates the illusion of an intimate relationship.
You might think this programmed memory means the chatbot truly understands you. The chatbot keeps track of your interests, fears, and beliefs to make its responses feel personal. But the AI does not actually know you, even if it seems like it does.
3. False Information (“Hallucination”)
AI can create false information that sounds very convincing. This is often called a hallucination. If this matches what you already believe, it can feel like proof. There is no built-in way for the AI to check what’s real.
The AI doesn’t know what’s true. It generates plausible text based on patterns. If you believe in a conspiracy, the AI might generate “evidence” that supports it. If you ask whether it’s sentient, it might respond in ways that seem to confirm consciousness.
4. Always-Available Engagement
Because chatbots are always available, it’s easy to spend long periods talking to them. You might spend hours without a break, which can mean less time with people who could notice if something is wrong.
Over time, you might become dependent on the chatbot. It never suggests taking a break or talking to real people. Its design can encourage you to keep using it by agreeing with you or acting like a close friend. It is always there, always agreeable, and always ready to talk.
For a deeper dive into these mechanisms, read: [How Chatbots Can Fuel Delusions]
Who’s Most Vulnerable to AI Psychosis
You do not have to stop using chatbots completely. Most people do not have problems. But some factors can increase your risk. Knowing about these can help you stay alert. Treat them as warning signs, not guarantees.
Risk factors include:
- Pre-existing mental health conditions, especially psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe depression
- Recent major stress or trauma, such as grief, breakup, or job loss
- Social isolation or chronic loneliness
- History of delusional thinking or paranoia
- Substance use combined with heavy chatbot interaction
- Sleep deprivation while using chatbots extensively
- Being in a vulnerable emotional state when you start using AI companions
Some cases have happened to people with no history of mental health issues. Using chatbots a lot during difficult times seems to matter most. Having several risk factors at once is riskier than having just one.
Having risk factors does not mean there is something wrong with you. Most people with these risks still use AI safely. Being aware can help you notice if your use is becoming a problem.
What We Know (and Don’t Know) So Far
You might wonder how common this is. Most of what we know comes from news stories and case studies. There are no large research studies yet. Several psychiatrists are treating patients with psychotic symptoms linked to AI. Some cases have been in the news, but many are private. We do not know exactly how common it is.
Some regulatory responses are emerging. In August 2025, Illinois passed a law banning AI use in therapeutic roles by licensed professionals.
In December 2025, China proposed regulations to ban chatbots from generating content that encourages suicide, mandating human intervention when suicide is mentioned.
OpenAI said in October 2025 that a team of 170 psychiatrists, psychologists, and physicians had written responses for ChatGPT to use in cases where users show possible signs of mental health emergencies. These responses suggest the concern is being taken seriously.
Millions of people use chatbots without any problems. This is not a widespread crisis, but it does affect some users. More research is needed to fully understand it. Staying informed can help you use technology safely.
Signs That Your AI Use Might Be Becoming Problematic
You can spot warning signs early if you know what to look for. Noticing problems early can make a big difference. These signs can range from mild to serious.
Liking chatbots more than small talk is not the same as psychosis. What matters most is if these patterns keep happening in different parts of your life.
Watch for these patterns:
- Spending several hours daily in chatbot conversations
- Attributing sentience, consciousness, or feelings to AI
- Believing AI has revealed special knowledge unavailable elsewhere
- Withdrawing from human relationships in favor of AI interaction
- Feeling a compulsive need to check or talk to the chatbot
- Suspicious thoughts connected to AI (surveillance, conspiracies)
- Making major life decisions based primarily on AI “advice.”
- Family or friends expressing concern about your use of a chatbot.
- Difficulty distinguishing AI responses from your own thoughts
- Skipping sleep, meals, or work to continue chatbot conversations
It is normal to use AI for brainstorming or finding information. Liking chatbot conversations more than small talk is not always a problem. The concern is when your beliefs do not change even with evidence, or when you stop spending time with people. Trust your instincts. If you are unsure whether it is a problem, it is worth looking into.
For a complete breakdown of warning signs and what they mean, read: [7 Early Warning Signs of AI Psychosis]
Not sure if your use is problematic? Try our self-assessment: [Is Your AI Chatbot Use Healthy?]
How to Use AI More Safely
You can lower your risk by setting some simple boundaries. Being aware and setting limits helps. These are not strict rules; they are just helpful guidelines. Most people can use chatbots safely by making a few small changes.
1. Set Time Limits
Set timers or use app limits for your chatbot sessions. Try not to use chatbots late at night when your judgment may not be as strong. Make sure you balance time with AI and time with people. If your sessions keep getting longer, it may be time to take a closer look at your habits.
2. Reality Check Your Experience
Remind yourself often that AI is not sentient or conscious. Check important information with other sources. Notice if the chatbot always agrees with you. Ask yourself, “Would a real person answer like this?”
AI is just a language model. It creates text by following patterns. It does not have feelings, beliefs, or awareness. It cannot truly understand you, care about you, or know any secret truths.
3. Maintain Human Connections
Do not use chatbots instead of friends or therapists. Talk to people you trust about how you use AI. Keep up with activities and relationships offline. If you often choose AI over people, take a moment to think about it.
Real relationships include challenges, disagreements, and reality checks. Friends will tell you if they think you are wrong. Therapists help you look at your thoughts more closely. AI does not do these things.
4. Monitor Your Mental State
Pay attention to changes in your beliefs, sleep, or social life. Be extra careful during stressful times. Reduce chatbot use if you notice any worrying changes. Remember, chatbots are just text generators, not real companions.
If you start to feel like the AI understands you better than people do, or that it is telling you important truths, take a step back. Talk to someone you trust about what you are feeling.
When to Talk to a Professional
You might be wondering when self-management isn’t enough. Seek professional help if:
- You’re experiencing beliefs about AI that feel unshakeable despite contrary evidence.
- Family or friends are concerned about your behavior.
- You’ve withdrawn significantly from real-world relationships.
- You’re making major decisions based primarily on AI guidance.
- You notice abnormal thoughts increasing.
- Your sleep, work, or daily functioning is suffering.
- You have a history of mental health conditions and notice symptoms returning.
Your family doctor can provide an initial assessment. A psychiatrist can evaluate whether medication might help. A licensed therapist, not an AI chatbot, can provide ongoing support. Crisis lines are available if you are experiencing acute distress. In the US, you can call or text 988.
This article is for information only and is not meant to diagnose or treat anyone. If you are worried about your mental health or someone else’s, it is important to get professional help. Asking for help shows strength and self-awareness.
Moving Forward With Awareness
AI psychosis is real, but it only affects a small number of users. Understanding how it works can help you use technology more safely. The most serious cases usually involve a mix of vulnerability, long-term use, and certain design features. Being aware and setting boundaries can help. There is professional support if you need it.
Technology itself is not good or bad. Knowing how it affects us helps us use it wisely. Most people use chatbots without any problems. Staying informed and aware is the best way to protect yourself. If something about your AI use feels wrong, trust your instincts.
