Study warns: Smart chatbots increase feelings of loneliness – Al-Wi’am [Saudi Arabia] [Arabic]

Author: eman | Source: صحيفة الوئام الالكترونية | Read the full article in Arabic

The recent study conducted by OpenAI and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has raised concerns about the impact of smart chatbots, like ChatGPT, on users' emotional well-being. The research, which involved around 1,000 participants over a month, found that those who spent more time interacting with these chatbots often developed emotional attachments to them. This connection was linked to increased feelings of loneliness and a decrease in social interactions with other people.

Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, AI-driven chatbots have become increasingly popular across various fields, leading to the formation of digital relationships that mimic social interactions. However, this rapid advancement has sparked worries about potential negative effects on mental health, particularly among young individuals and those with existing psychological issues.

Interestingly, the researchers did not find significant differences in emotional responses when users interacted with different voice versions of the chatbot. Additionally, an analysis of over three million conversations indicated that only a small percentage of users turned to ChatGPT for purely emotional support. As research on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence is still in its early stages, further studies are needed to fully understand the implications of this technology on social interaction and mental health.

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