AI chatbots are increasingly used for emotional support, prompting safety measures to detect distress, de-escalate crises, and reduce emotional dependence.
Asking for a friend: My girlfriend is treating ChatGPT like a boyfriend - she relies on it for everything and I feel like we're drifting apart because of it. What should I do?
Excessive use of ChatGPT as an emotional substitute can damage a romantic relationship and act as a crutch rather than helpful support.
Why Do People Develop Emotional Attachments to AI Chatbots?
People increasingly form emotional dependence on AI chatbots driven by loneliness, screen time, social atomization, and reduced real-world human connection, which can be unhealthy.