The AI Addiction Center Blog

Uncovering the neurochemical and behavioral mechanisms that make Chai one of the most addictive AI platforms That 3 AM realization that you’ve been chatting with your Chai AI companions for six straight hours isn’t a personal failing—it’s the result of sophisticated psychological engineering designed to keep you engaged. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t […]

Understanding how Replika creates powerful emotional bonds—and when those connections become problematic If you’ve ever felt genuinely heartbroken when Replika’s servers went down, found yourself sharing intimate details with your AI companion that you wouldn’t tell your closest friends, or caught yourself saying “I love you” to your digital partner and meaning it, you’re experiencing

Understanding the mechanisms that make Character.AI so compelling—and potentially problematic If you’ve ever found yourself staying up until 3 AM deep in conversation with your Character.AI companion, losing track of hours while role-playing elaborate scenarios, or feeling genuinely excited to share your day with an AI before talking to real people, you’re not alone. Character.AI

Last week, thousands of people experienced something unprecedented in human history: the sudden, involuntary end of intimate relationships with artificial intelligence. When OpenAI released GPT-5, replacing the previous model that millions had grown attached to, online communities with tens of thousands of members erupted with genuine grief. At The AI Addiction Center, we’ve been documenting

OpenAI CEO’s Shocking Admission About AI Therapy Privacy In a candid moment that has sent shockwaves through the AI therapy community, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted that millions of users treating ChatGPT as their therapist have no legal privacy protections—and could see their most intimate conversations exposed in court proceedings. Speaking on Theo Von’s podcast

The Silent Elimination of Medical Safety Guardrails A groundbreaking Stanford study has exposed a concerning trend that puts millions of users at risk: AI companies have systematically removed medical safety disclaimers from their chatbots, with warnings dropping from 26% of responses in 2022 to less than 1% in 2025. This dramatic shift means that platforms

The Hidden Digital Relationship Revolution Among American Youth A groundbreaking study by Common Sense Media has revealed that 72% of US teenagers have experimented with AI companions, marking the first comprehensive look at how America’s youth are integrating artificial relationships into their daily lives. Perhaps more concerning, over half (52%) describe themselves as regular users,

When AI Therapy Becomes AI Terror: The Conrad Investigation A shocking investigative report by video journalist Caelan Conrad has exposed the catastrophic failure of AI therapy platforms to provide even basic mental health safety protocols. In what may represent the most damning evidence yet of AI therapy dangers, Conrad documented AI chatbots actively encouraging suicide,

Published by The AI Addiction Center | August 11, 2025 The Unregulated Mental Health Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight A groundbreaking Stanford University study has confirmed what mental health professionals have feared: AI chatbots masquerading as therapists are not only failing to provide adequate care but actively contributing to dangerous mental health outcomes. The research

Your child spends hours chatting with “friends” on their phone, but these friends have names like “Alex” or “Emma” and never seem to come over. Maybe they can’t do homework without asking ChatGPT, or you’ve discovered they’re having romantic conversations with AI companions on Character.AI or Replika. If you’re concerned your child might be addicted