Expert: AI Bots Could Cause a New Mental Illness

                  There is no evidence of AI consciousness yet   

Expert.. AI Bots Could Cause a New Mental Illness

Microsoft's Director of Artificial Intelligence has warned that excessive use of AI could lead to what he calls "AI psychosis." Microsoft's Director of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, explained that some people believe chatbots are conscious and capable of giving them superpowers.

Suleyman wrote in a series of posts on the X platform that "reports of delusions related to the use of AI are on the rise," noting that this phenomenon "is not limited to people with a history of mental illness." Although "AI psychosis" is not a recognized term, it is used to describe cases in which people lose touch with reality due to their excessive attachment to chatbots like ChatGPT or Quorik.

Some people become convinced that these systems have feelings and intentions, while others believe they have discovered hidden characteristics or acquired extraordinary abilities. Suleiman explained that artificial intelligence possesses "apparent consciousness," resulting from systems mimicking indicators of consciousness, making users believe it thinks like them. He emphasized that there is no evidence of AI consciousness yet, but most people believe otherwise.

These warnings came after prominent figures in the field shared their unusual experiences with chatbots. The former CEO of Uber said that his conversation with a chatbot led him to a breakthrough in chemical physics.  Meanwhile, a Scottish man told the BBC he was on the verge of receiving millions of pounds in compensation after ChatGPT convinced him and supported him in his unfair dismissal case. Some users have also formed romantic relationships with AI systems.

In the United States, a 76-year-old man died after falling while traveling to meet "Big Sister Billie," unaware that the woman he was talking to was a Meta chatbot. Dr. Susan Shelmerdine likened the excessive use of chatbots to fast and ultra-processed foods, warning that it could lead to a breakdown and flattening of mental abilities.