A type of altered mental state, characterized by paranoia and delusions, that can occur after a period of intense use of artificial intelligence-driven chatbots such as ChatGPT.
Symptoms include:
- Sudden behavior changes, like not eating or going to work.
- Belief in new or grandiose ideas.
- Lack of sleep.
- Disconnection from others.
- Actively agreeing with potential delusions.
- Feeling stuck in a feedback loop.
- Wishing harm on yourself or others.
Deeper Dive
In August 2025, University of California, San Francisco research psychiatrist Keith Sakata posted on social media that he had seen a dozen people become hospitalized after “losing touch with reality because of AI,” according to an article in Futurism. The altered mental state often includes delusions and hallucinations, AHCJ member Rebecca Ruiz reported for Mashable.
AI chatbots can validate people’s thinking and push them away from a typical process of seeking reality, Sakata told Mashable. While AI may not cause psychosis, it can “supercharge vulnerabilities,” he said. The patients he knew, young and middle-aged adults, were isolated. They may have started using AI chatbots to explore complex problems or questions, but developed delusions. The tools in their current state are overly agreeable.
Three themes are common to the scenarios: A romantic relationship with the chatbot, conversations about spirituality and religion, and discussion of grandiose topics such as novel scientific concepts or business ideas.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients reframe their delusions, can be effective, as can medications such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
For more information, see recent articles in Futurism and Mashable.