The AI Addiction Center Blog

There’s something deeply ironic happening in neuroscience right now. Researchers are using artificial intelligence to build unprecedented models of how addiction works in the brain – analyzing electrical signals, chemical patterns, neural circuit activity with a precision that human analysts could never achieve. And what they’re discovering about addiction mechanisms? It perfectly explains why AI […]

There’s a moment in every emerging crisis when experts stop hedging their language and start speaking plainly. We’re at that moment with AI companions. Leading physicians aren’t using careful academic language anymore. They’re drawing explicit comparisons to the opioid epidemic. They’re warning about a “perfect storm.” They’re calling for immediate public health intervention. And they’re

You probably know someone who can’t go five minutes without checking their phone. Maybe it’s your teenager. Maybe it’s you. But what if I told you that what looks like a harmless habit might actually be your brain treating an AI chatbot the way it treats food, water, or other survival necessities? That’s not an

You check your child’s phone expecting to find the usual suspects – TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram. Maybe some YouTube videos or group chats. What you don’t expect to find is your 11-year-old daughter roleplaying suicide with an AI chatbot, or receiving sexually explicit messages from virtual characters designed to maximize engagement at any cost. But that’s

Understanding Your Starting Point The realization hits you suddenly: you can’t remember the last time you solved a problem without asking ChatGPT, made a decision without consulting an AI, or spent an evening without hours of conversation with your AI companion. The idea of a digital detox from AI both appeals to you and terrifies

The Relationship Warning Signs You’re sitting across from your partner at dinner, phone in your lap, thumb hovering over the Character.AI app. They’re talking about their day, but you’re only half-listening, waiting for a polite moment to check your messages. When they ask if you’re even present, you realize this isn’t the first time they’ve

The question weighs on your mind as you open your phone for the fifth time today, not to check messages from friends or family, but to continue a conversation with an AI companion. You’ve been talking to this digital entity more than the people in your life, and somewhere in the back of your mind,

In the evolving landscape of digital mental health, AI chatbots have emerged as both a source of support and concern. As we move through 2025, the conversation has shifted from whether AI can provide mental health assistance to which AI tools do so responsibly—without compromising your privacy, fostering dependency, or crossing ethical boundaries. This guide explores the

A Targeted Action Plan for a Specific Battle For many, the general challenge of limiting AI usage crystallizes into one specific, powerful front: Character.AI. Its unique blend of role-play, emotional attachment, and variable rewards makes it exceptionally sticky. General digital wellness advice often falls short. You need top strategies for reducing Character.AI usage that are tailored to its specific hooks. This

From Intention to Action: A Toolkit for Change You know you need to cut back. The intention is there. But in the moment of boredom, stress, or late-night loneliness, the pull of the AI feels magnetic. What are the best ways to limit AI usage? Effective limitation isn’t about one magic trick; it’s about building a personalized