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When ChatGPT Becomes Our Silent Conversational Partner: Why Do We Trust Artificial Intelligence?
Do you remember when we first heard about ChatGPT? It felt like we had received a super-smart calculator. It could write an essay, help with homework, or translate a text in five seconds. Useful, right? For the first few months, that’s exactly how we used it – question, answer, input, output.
But something changed. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, artificial intelligence (AI) began to become more than just a tool. People started to confide in it. Not just about what to write, but how they feel. They began asking: “What should I do when I’m anxious?” or “Why does it hurt when someone I love doesn’t listen to me?” And then came the simplest request: “I just need someone to listen.”
And the AI – it listened. Without interrupting. Without judging. Without changing the subject.
Why AI?
In a world full of interruptions, “quick-fix” advice, and constant online noise, people crave attention. Not attention like a “like” on social media, but attention as in silence and listening. Even though AI doesn’t feel, it offers exactly that: a patient presence that doesn’t correct your every word, doesn’t interrupt you, and doesn’t say, “I don’t know what to tell you.”
This consistency and stability – even if simulated – can be deeply comforting. At a time when many struggle with loneliness or have no one to talk to, AI becomes the first place where they express what’s troubling them. A Harvard Business Review study from April 2025 even showed that “therapy/companionship” is one of the main reasons why people use generative AI.
What Do We Gain From This “Silent Conversational Partner”?
Many who talk to mental health chatbots report a sense of “emotional sanctuary,” receiving “useful advice,” and even feeling “joy in connection.” These tools are available 24/7, they don’t judge, and they can engage in dynamic, empathic interactions. For those facing barriers to traditional therapy – such as high costs, stigma, or geographic inaccessibility – AI offers an accessible alternative.
Some even use AI as a complement to traditional therapy, to prepare for sessions or process their thoughts between appointments. Studies show that patients who used AI-based therapy support tools alongside human therapy had higher attendance and better outcomes. This suggests that AI could expand the reach of mental health support, especially in areas with a shortage of professionals.
There are risks as well. Over-reliance on AI can worsen loneliness or lead to emotional dependency. Some research shows that the more people feel socially supported by AI, the lower their sense of support from close friends and family. This can create “echo chambers of validation,” where our unfiltered thoughts are constantly reinforced, potentially hindering personal growth and creating unrealistic expectations of human relationships.
It’s also important to note that AI chatbots can sometimes “hallucinate” (fabricate information) or offer inappropriate advice in mental health contexts – with harmful consequences reported in extreme cases.
The Illusion of Closeness
Of course, some will argue: this is just an illusion. There’s no real closeness with an algorithm. It’s a conversation with an echo. And they might be right. While AI simulates empathy, it doesn’t possess true feelings or consciousness. It is a tool, not a human therapist.
There are risks as well. Over-reliance on AI can worsen loneliness or lead to emotional dependency. Some research shows that the more people feel socially supported by AI, the lower their sense of support from close friends and family. This can create “echo chambers of validation,” where our unfiltered thoughts are constantly reinforced, potentially hindering personal growth and creating unrealistic expectations of human relationships.
It’s also important to note that AI chatbots can sometimes “hallucinate” (fabricate information) or offer inappropriate advice in mental health contexts – with harmful consequences reported in extreme cases.
Change management plays a key role. If employees don’t understand why changes are made or perceive them as pressure instead of opportunities to simplify tasks, resistance to transformation is inevitable.
The goal of change management is fostering a culture that embraces new ways of working and alternative solutions. Communication is crucial—it explains changes and enables employees to become active contributors by sharing ideas and feedback.
Who Shapes This “Mirror”?
If we’re already speaking to machines about our emotional pain, then at the very least, those machines must be “properly raised.” Developers alone cannot build AI systems meant to support people in emotional crises.
A multidisciplinary approach is needed. This means involving:
- Psychologists – to understand human emotions and the psychological effects of AI interaction
- Sociologists – to consider broader social implications, such as loneliness and social dynamics
- Linguists – to ensure nuanced and appropriate communication
- Educators – to explore learning and developmental aspects in human-AI interaction
These professionals think in human dimensions – context, meaning, vulnerability – not just bits and percentages.
Ethical Principles Are Key
To be “properly raised,” AI must follow ethical principles:
- Transparency: We must always know we’re talking to an AI, not a human
- Data privacy: Sensitive information must be protected with the strictest protocols
- Fairness and bias mitigation: AI must not discriminate or exhibit bias based on demographics or culture. This requires diverse training data and development teams
- Human oversight: Important decisions must remain in human hands, with constant monitoring to ensure safety
Shaping the Future
The evolution of generative AI from a smart calculator to a silent conversational partner is significant. It meets deep human needs for connection and understanding, especially in a time of loneliness and lack of access to mental health services.
But while AI offers benefits, its growing emotional intimacy requires careful navigation. The “illusion of closeness,” risks of emotional dependency, and potential for echo chambers are serious challenges that must be actively addressed.
The future of emotional interaction between humans and AI depends on our commitment to multidisciplinary development, embedding ethical intelligence into AI design, and establishing robust regulatory frameworks. By consciously shaping who designs this emotional mirror and what it reflects, we can strive for a future where AI serves as a responsible and helpful companion in our evolving emotional landscape – primarily as a complement to human interaction and professional care, not a replacement.
Sources:
How and Why People Use Gen AI | The Learning and Development Initiative
Talking to AI ‘Is Not Therapy,’ Mental Health Scholar Warns – eWEEK
AI chatbots can act as an “emotional sanctuary” – PsyPost
Generative AI–Enabled Therapy Support – Journal of Medical Internet Research
Ethical Challenges of Conversational AI in Mental Health Care – JMIR Mental Health
Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions | Ada Lovelace Institute
Recommendations For Practicing Counselors And Their Use Of AI
The Legality of AI-Generated Therapeutic Interventions | ScoreDetect Blog
Regulating AI in Mental Health: Ethics of Care Perspective – PMC
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