Increased ChatGPT use linked to loneliness, studies find

Recent studies from OpenAI and MIT Media Lab suggest that increased use of ChatGPT may lead to feelings of loneliness. These findings come from two studies that have not yet been peer-reviewed. One study analyzed over 40 million interactions with ChatGPT, while the other tracked participants for four weeks. The MIT study explored how engaging with ChatGPT, whether through text or voice, impacts emotional well-being. It found that users who trust the chatbot and tend to form emotional bonds in relationships may feel lonelier and more dependent on ChatGPT. The loneliness was less noticeable when using the voice feature, especially if ChatGPT spoke in a neutral tone. Discussing personal topics often resulted in short-term loneliness, while broader discussions increased emotional dependency. OpenAI's study noted that emotional interactions with ChatGPT are not common among all users. Most emotionally expressive conversations were seen primarily among a small group of heavy users of the voice mode. This indicates that while the findings from MIT are significant, they do not apply to the majority of ChatGPT users. Both studies have limitations, such as a short observation period and the absence of a control group in the MIT research. However, they support the idea that talking to AI can affect human emotions. As interest in AI as a conversational partner grows, understanding these effects becomes increasingly important.