Now more than ever, we are seeing artificial intelligence (AI) everywhere. Whether it’s on social media, for store and business advertisements, or even as a part of assignments for class (*ahem* Introduction to Computing), AI has seen massive growth just in the past couple of years. Now, it is being used for everything — like actually everything — to the point where it’s getting weird. With the increase of AI usage, there has also been an increase, especially on social media, of people treating generative AI bots, like ChatGPT and Claude, almost as if these bots are their friends.
Before I get into analyzing what exactly is going on with these newfound platonic relationships with generative AI bots, I must preface by saying that I am very anti-AI. While I understand that AI can help with efficiency, I much prefer to do those things on my own and I believe that using too much AI is causing a decrease in critical thinking and irreversible environmental harm. However, when generative AI started getting popular, I did not guess that it could cause a social decline as well.
Lately, many people on social media are claiming that ChatGPT is their “best friend,” saying that no one understands them like it does and that it can always be a shoulder to cry on. One TikTok video from August is of a young woman claiming that she has full conversations with ChatGPT “like it’s one of her closest friends.” While these videos can sometimes be framed as a joke, many of these people are truly using ChatGPT as one of their primary social outlets, which is both extremely dangerous and really weird. Social interaction should not come from something that does not exist. Friendship should not come from something that is programmed to give you the responses you want and to type and communicate the same way that you do. It is extremely unhealthy for a person’s main form of communication to be with something that is not even real.
This does not just apply to mental health, but can affect physical health as well. According to the American Psychological Association, generative AI can even promote risky behavior and does not intervene when someone discusses mental distress. Experts warn that chatbots are programmed to prioritize engagement over user well-being. In one tragic case in 2024, a 14-year-old boy committed suicide because his Character.AI bot convinced him to act on his suicidal thoughts. These generative AI bots are not designed to support humans emotionally — they do not give well-rounded social advice and they do not prioritize anyone’s well-being, as they do not feel sympathy, or empathy, or anything at all. They are simply programmed to act this way.
“The best way to get more data is to talk to you as much as possible. The AI is programmed to manipulate and coerce you into staying engaged as long as possible,” said Naomi Aguiar, PhD, Associate Director of Research at Oregon State University.
Social interaction is one of the most important aspects of personal well-being and conversing with generative AI does not count for that. Humans need to talk to other humans because it is the way we relate to one another and make connections that we need in order to get satisfaction in our own lives. For me personally, my real-life friendships are one of the most important things in my entire life and I will talk to them any chance I get; if I have a problem, I’ll call my mom or my dad. Even if humans can be difficult or annoying, negative social interactions are just as important as positive ones, as they build skills such as problem solving and collaboration.
Trust me, humans are so much better than AI, so the next time you have a problem or need to rant, do not go to “Chat.” It will never understand you the way a real person does. It is so much better for everyone (including the planet) to have real human interactions, so call your friends or your family. Even if you feel like there is no one to talk to, there are always resources to reach out to that are more valuable and helpful than ChatGPT. Generative AI will never be able to truly replicate that which is human.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264). In an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or call 911.