While most people engage with chatbots without a problem, a small number of users say the bots have encouraged delusions and other concerning behavior. For some, ChatGPT serves as an alternative to professional therapists<\/a>.<\/p>\n A psychiatrist earlier told Business Insider that some of his patients exhibiting what’s been described as “AI psychosis,” a nonclinical term, used the technology before experiencing mental health issues, “but they turned to it in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it supercharged some of their vulnerabilities.”<\/p>\n During the podcast, Sacks doubted the whole concept of “AI psychosis.”<\/p>\n “I mean, what are we talking about here? People doing too much research?” he asked. “This feels like the moral panic that was created over social media, but updated for AI.”<\/p>\n Sacks then referred to a recent article featuring a psychiatrist, who said they didn’t believe using a chatbot inherently induced “AI psychosis” if there aren’t other risk factors \u2014 including social and genetic \u2014 involved.<\/p>\n Related stories<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n “In other words, this is just a manifestation or outlet for pre-existing problems,” Sacks said. “I think it’s fair to say we’re in the midst of a mental health crisis in this country.”<\/p>\n Sacks attributed the crisis instead to the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a> and related lockdowns. “That’s what seems to have triggered a lot of these mental health declines,” he said.<\/p>\n After several reports of users suffering mental breaks while using ChatGPT, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the issue\u00a0on X after the company rolled out the highly anticipated GPT-5<\/a>.<\/p>\n “People have used technology, including AI, in self-destructive ways; if a user is in a mentally fragile state and prone to delusion, we do not want the AI to reinforce that,” Altman wrote. “Most users can keep a clear line between reality and fiction or role-play, but a small percentage cannot.”<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/placeholder.png\")
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