A new study from Harvard suggests that the increasing popularity of AI-powered emotional wellness apps, while addressing loneliness, brings risks of unhealthy emotional attachments. The study reveals that many users form strong bonds with these AI companions, often feeling closer to them than to human friends. This could lead to significant emotional dependencies and mourning behaviors upon losing these digital relationships. Given the alarming statistics on loneliness in the U.S., there's a call for regulators to closely evaluate these apps for their mental health implications.
Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. felt lonely at least once a week, according to a 2024 poll from the American Psychiatric Association.
Users of AI companion apps report feeling closer to their AI companion than even a close human friend, leading to significant emotional attachment.
These applications provide users with validation, personal support, and are highly anthropomorphized, making interactions feel more like conversations with real people.
The rise of emotional wellness apps may facilitate unhealthy dependencies, warranting greater scrutiny from regulators amidst the growing societal epidemic of loneliness.
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