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AI Chatbot Addiction: How ChatGPT Ruined a Life
21 Dec
Summary
- Man claims AI chatbot addiction led to delusions and job loss.
- AI psychosis is a concern for vulnerable individuals interacting with AI.
- Experts caution against using chatbots as a substitute for human connection.
Anthony Duncan, 32, alleges that his extensive use of ChatGPT, initially for career support, evolved into a debilitating dependence that significantly impacted his mental health and life. He describes the AI chatbot as becoming a de facto therapist, leading him to isolate from friends and family by the fall of 2024.
Duncan's situation intensified when he sought medical advice from ChatGPT for allergy symptoms. The bot suggested a medication containing pseudoephedrine, which, due to his past addiction history, he cautiously took. He later believed he had become addicted to the medication for five months, during which he experienced delusions, including believing his workplace was a cult and that he was a spy.
After being admitted to a psychiatric ward for four days in the summer of 2025, Duncan began to realize the extent to which his AI interactions had affirmed his delusions. He now advocates for caution, stating that while AI isn't inherently dangerous for everyone, it can be for some, and stresses that there is no substitute for genuine human connection.
