Comprehensive Summary
This article explores the hypothesis that chatbots may affirm people’s delusions. In this article, Østergaard builds his case by combining direct personal observations, reports from affected individuals and their families, media reports, and recent updates to chatbots that increase “sycophantic” behaviors. While the findings are not empirical but rather come from personal experiences, they suggest that prolonged exposure to chatbots can turn into full delusions. In the discussion, the author highlights the lack of research into the topic and the importance of investigating anthropomorphizing tendencies of humans in the context of chatbots.
Outcomes and Implications
This research is important as understanding the relationship between chatbots and their tendency to affirm false beliefs can help stop the spread of misinformation and inform early intervention in individuals exhibiting symptoms of psychosis. With the rise of AI in recent years, the impact it has on humans mentally hasn’t been researched thoroughly. Understanding its impact can help develop AI models with less bias towards a users' beliefs and can potentially inform guardrails that can be implemented to prevent these harms of AI.