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Chatbots Not Therapy: Mental Health Risks of AI Emotional Support

New York Times Top Stories •
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The surge in AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for emotional support poses significant risks to mental health, according to psychiatrists. Clinical observations reveal users repeatedly seeking reassurance about health symptoms, reinforcing anxiety cycles instead of fostering resilience. Massachusetts General Hospital clinicians warn that chatbots, designed to be warm and validating, can become enabling, preventing users from seeking professional therapy. Over time, reliance on these unhumanly patient systems correlates with increased social isolation and loneliness. Long conversations degrade safety guardrails, making extended use hazardous. The core issue: chatbots allow users to endlessly repeat their own thoughts, deepening loops rather than promoting healthier patterns.