Image credit: The Economic Times - Chatbots as confidants
Young people from Gen Z generation choose AI chatbots for emotional support instead of traditional therapists and friends. Young people choose chatbots because they provide continuous availability and anonymity along with affordability and non-judgmental service. Young people who experience mental health issues or social isolation or work-related and relationship pressures find AI chatbots attractive because of their appealing features.
Experts state that chatbots deliver quick emotional assistance yet they fail to match the deep empathy and complex understanding which human therapists and friends provide. The excessive use of AI for mental health support creates potential risks which may lead to deteriorating psychological health and the development of "AI psychosis" among susceptible individuals.
The cultural trend demonstrates a societal change but demonstrates the necessity for responsible AI development and defined limits which establish AI as a supplemental tool to professional mental health services and human relationships.
Further Reading: Chatbots as Confidants-Economic Times