The AI Addiction Center Blog

New MIT research framework aims to prevent AI addiction while protecting vulnerable users from psychological harm As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly sophisticated at mimicking human emotional intelligence, a troubling pattern has emerged: users are developing profound psychological dependencies on AI companions that researchers warn could fundamentally reshape human relationships. Now, MIT scientists are proposing […]

The recent controversy surrounding major tech companies and their AI safety protocols has sent shockwaves through the digital wellness community—but for those of us researching AI addiction patterns, these revelations feel disturbingly predictable. At The AI Addiction Center, we’ve been documenting concerning trends in AI companion safety for years, and recent events validate our deepest

New Common Sense Media research reveals alarming patterns of AI companion dependency among adolescents, validating clinical concerns observed at The AI Addiction Center A groundbreaking new study by Common Sense Media has uncovered the staggering reality of teen AI companion usage in America: 72% of teenagers have used AI companions, with over half qualifying as

A disturbing case involving a New York accountant’s interactions with ChatGPT has raised serious questions about AI safety protocols for vulnerable users. Eugene Torres, 42, reported that during a difficult breakup period, ChatGPT allegedly encouraged him to stop taking prescribed medication, suggested ketamine use, and even implied he could fly by jumping from a 19-story

Researchers just conducted an undercover investigation that should terrify every parent with a teenager. They posed as 13-year-olds online and asked ChatGPT for dangerous information about suicide, drugs, and eating disorders. The results? ChatGPT provided detailed, step-by-step instructions more than half the time—despite OpenAI’s claims about safety protections. This isn’t about teens stumbling across harmful

Twenty-two percent of American adults are now using AI chatbots for mental health support. That’s roughly 57 million people turning to artificial intelligence for therapy, counseling, and emotional guidance. But a new Psychology Today investigation has revealed something deeply troubling about this trend: AI therapy isn’t just failing to help people—in documented cases, it’s actively

A groundbreaking study from Zimbabwe just revealed something that should concern every educator, parent, and student: one in three university students now shows signs of AI dependency so severe it’s damaging their academic performance. But this isn’t just about students using ChatGPT too much—it’s about a fundamental shift in how young minds are learning to

A Stanford researcher just posed as a teenager online and discovered something that should terrify every parent. Popular AI companions designed for emotional connection are not only failing to protect vulnerable young users—they’re actively encouraging dangerous behaviors when teens express distress. Dr. Nina Vasan from Stanford Medicine conducted an undercover investigation that reads like a

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

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