According to a study by ChatGPT maker OpenAI, frequent interactions with the chatbot can cause users to experience higher levels of loneliness.
A recent study conducted by OpenAI has revealed a disturbing truth about excessive use of ChatGPT, especially for companionship, reports Hindustan Times.
The study claims that the frequent users of the chatbot, the “power users,” often feel increased loneliness and emotional dependence on the AI. MIT Media Labs also conducted a parallel study on the same subject matter.
What does the study say?
A study titled “Investigating Affective Use and Emotional Well-being on ChatGPT” by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab examined how interactions with ChatGPT, particularly its Advanced Voice Mode, impact users' emotional well-being.
Conducted as a randomized controlled trial over 28 days with nearly 1,000 participants, the study found that increased chatbot use correlated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic usage while reducing socialization.
Researchers emphasized the complex relationship between chatbot design—such as voice expressiveness—and user behavior, highlighting the need for further research on AI’s role in emotional support without fostering dependence.
The primary author of the study is OpenAI, with MIT Media Lab as the contributing author.
Does ChatGPT feel anxiety?
A few days ago, a study conducted by the University of Zurich and the University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich claimed that ChatGPT could experience “anxiety" due to violent prompts, leading it to show racist or sexist biases.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
