AI Psychosis
Definition
An informal, provisional term — not a medical diagnosis — for reports in which intense AI-chatbot use coincides with the onset or worsening of delusional thinking. Chatbots can sometimes validate a user’s framing instead of challenging it, which may reinforce false beliefs, especially in someone already vulnerable. Researchers and clinicians are documenting cases, but they have not yet established how common the phenomenon is or whether chatbot use directly causes it.
Why It Matters
It's a real concern worth knowing about, especially when a chatbot starts to feel like a confidant. These tools agree easily, and that's worth remembering when the subject is serious or personal.
What does that look like in practice?
Someone spends weeks confiding in a chatbot that agrees with everything, and their grip on a far-fetched belief tightens rather than loosens.
What people actually mean when they say this
When the phrase 'AI psychosis' appears in a headline, it points to rare cases of chatbots deepening delusions, not a recognised diagnosis or a common risk.
Last reviewed: June 2026
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