Study Warns of Risks From Emotional Attachment to AI Chatbots

A recent study has warned of the risks associated with growing emotional reliance on artificial intelligence chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude and digital companion applications.

The warning focuses on users’ emotional attachment to these systems, rather than their use as tools for answering questions or completing tasks.

By including both general-purpose chatbots and digital companion apps, the study raises concerns that extend beyond services designed specifically to offer virtual companionship.

The brief summary did not identify the study’s authors or provide details of its methods, findings or the specific harms examined. It therefore offers no basis for assessing how widespread emotional dependence on these tools may be.

The central concern is the potential risk of increasingly relying on AI for emotional support, as the boundary between using a chatbot and becoming attached to it comes under scrutiny.