Generative AI: can virtual companions accentuate loneliness?


Intensive use of ChatGPT is accompanied by a significant increase in feelings of loneliness. — AFP Relaxnews

It's impossible to ignore the fact that artificial intelligence has made its way into our lives, whether for our day-to-day questions or major decisions. ChatGPT and its chatbot cousins are gradually becoming go-to tools, to the point where some users are using them as veritable confidants. But a recent American study highlights a worrying phenomenon: as the number of interactions with ChatGPT increases, so does the feeling of loneliness and dependency.

To better understand this impact on emotional health, researchers conducted two complementary studies. The first, a randomized clinical trial conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed 1,000 participants for four weeks. The second, conducted by OpenAI, was based on automated analysis of almost 40 million conversations. The verdict? Intensive use of ChatGPT was accompanied by a significant increase in feelings of loneliness and a strong emotional dependence on AI.

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