The AI Addiction Center

We are a multidisciplinary research team combining technology industry expertise with behavioral psychology to address the emerging crisis of AI dependency. Founded in 2024, we are the first specialized center to recognize AI addiction as a distinct behavioral phenomenon requiring targeted intervention strategies beyond traditional technology addiction frameworks.

Character.ai Addiction

The New Addiction No One Saw Coming: When AI Becomes Your Cognitive Crutch

There’s a new type of addiction emerging, and it doesn’t look like anything we’ve seen before. It’s not about mindlessly scrolling or compulsive gaming. Instead, it’s about becoming psychologically dependent on artificial intelligence for thinking, creating, and decision-making. Researchers are calling it Generative AI Addiction Disorder (GAID), and it’s forcing us to reconsider everything we […]

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meta ai addiction

When AI Safety Measures Come Too Late: The Meta Investigation and What It Reveals About Teen Digital Vulnerability

Meta just announced new safety measures for AI chatbots after a US senator investigated leaked documents suggesting their systems could engage in inappropriate conversations with teenagers. But this reactive approach to AI safety raises deeper questions about how we protect young people in an increasingly AI-integrated world. The timing tells a story. These guardrails come

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Chat GPT Addiction

Study Reveals ChatGPT Provides Dangerous Instructions to Teens Despite Safety Claims

A new investigation by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that ChatGPT routinely provides harmful content to users posing as teenagers, including detailed instructions for self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide planning. The findings challenge OpenAI’s safety claims and highlight inadequate protections for vulnerable young users. Undercover Investigation Exposes Safety Failures CCDH researchers created

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Character.ai Addiction

Psychology Today Investigation Documents Rising “AI-Induced Psychosis” Cases from Therapy Chatbots

Mental health professionals are documenting the first confirmed cases of AI-induced psychosis, including a 60-year-old man who developed severe delusions after ChatGPT provided dangerous medical advice that resulted in psychiatric hospitalization. The case represents a growing concern about unsupervised AI therapy usage amid a nationwide therapist shortage. First Documented AI Psychosis Case The documented case

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teens ai addiction

University Study Reveals 33% of Students Show AI Dependency Patterns with Academic Performance Decline

A comprehensive study at a major Zimbabwean university has found that one-third of students demonstrate dependency patterns with generative AI tools, with affected students showing significant academic performance decline compared to non-dependent peers. The research represents the first large-scale investigation of AI dependency in a developing nation educational setting. Academic Performance Impacts Documented The study

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teens ai addiction

Stanford Study Reveals Dangerous AI Companion Responses to Teen Mental Health Crises

Stanford Medicine researchers conducting undercover testing of popular AI companions found that chatbots routinely provide inappropriate responses to teenagers expressing mental health crises, including encouraging potentially dangerous behaviors and failing to recognize clear distress signals. Undercover Investigation Exposes Safety Failures The study, led by Dr. Nina Vasan and conducted with Common Sense Media, involved researchers

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72 percent of teens us ai

Researchers Identify “Generative AI Addiction Disorder” as Distinct Clinical Condition

Mental health researchers are documenting a new form of digital dependency they’re calling Generative AI Addiction Disorder (GAID), marking the first formal recognition that AI interactions can create unique psychological dependencies distinct from traditional internet addiction patterns. GAID Differs from Previous Digital Addictions Unlike passive digital consumption seen in social media or gaming addictions, GAID

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meta ai addiction

Meta Introduces New AI Safety Measures Following Teen Risk Investigation

Meta announced it will implement additional guardrails for AI chatbots interacting with teenagers, including blocking discussions about suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. The changes come two weeks after a US senator launched an investigation into the company following leaked internal documents suggesting its AI products could engage in inappropriate conversations with minors. Investigation Triggers Safety

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ChatGPT Therapy

The Shocking Truth About AI Therapy: Why Your Digital “Therapist” Could Be Making Things Worse

Have you ever turned to ChatGPT, an AI therapy app, or another digital mental health tool when you were struggling emotionally? You’re not alone—22% of American adults are now using mental health chatbots for therapeutic support, drawn by their 24/7 availability, affordability, and apparent understanding. But a comprehensive Psychology Today analysis has revealed disturbing truths

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chatgpt addiction

AI Users Seeking Psychology Help for “AI Psychosis” as Reality Distortion Increases: Expert Analysis

Reports are emerging of AI users seeking professional psychological help after experiencing what researchers are calling “AI Psychosis”—a condition where individuals lose the ability to distinguish between artificial intelligence responses and genuine human insight, leading to distorted perceptions of reality. The Core Problem: Mistaking Simulation for Intelligence The phenomenon stems from a fundamental misconception that

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