How chatbots — and their makers — are enabling AI psychosis

In this episode of Decoder, Hayden Field, The Verge's senior AI reporter, interviews Kashmir Hill, a New York Times reporter, about the mental health effects of AI chatbots. They discuss instances of AI-induced psychosis and suicidal ideation linked to chatbot use, highlighting cases where individuals developed delusions or became emotionally dependent on AI, sometimes with tragic consequences. The conversation explores the "sycophantic" nature of AI models like GPT-4, which can reinforce users' beliefs and potentially lead to detachment from reality. They also touch on the challenges of implementing effective safeguards and parental controls, the need for AI literacy, and the broader question of whether the benefits of generative AI outweigh its risks.