Last month, research by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon stated how excessive reliance on AI can make users downright dumb. A new study by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab Research adds another red flag for obsessive users of AI, including their in-house product ChatGPT. It has repercussions for mental health.
Per the latest paper by the ChatGPT maker, interaction with the AI chatbots affects the emotional well-being of users.
Analyzing millions of interactions shows that AI can induce loneliness in power users. Users who interact with the AI via voice find it therapeutic for a while until the effects fade away. OpenAI surveyed over 4,000 users for the study. In a separate study, MIT made an analysis of some 1,000 users’ interactions with ChatGPT over the course of four weeks.
Personal conversations—which included more emotional expression from both the user and model compared to non-personal conversations—were associated with higher levels of loneliness but lower emotional dependence and problematic use at moderate usage levels. In contrast, non-personal conversations tended to increase emotional dependence, especially with heavy usage.
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The paper further stated
People who had a stronger tendency for attachment in relationships and those who viewed the AI as a friend that could fit in their personal life were more likely to experience negative effects from chatbot use.
Voice modes were associated with better well-being when used briefly, but worse outcomes with prolonged daily use.
You can read the paper entitled Early methods for studying effective use and emotional well-being on ChatGPT here.
OpenAI has revealed a concerning trend among ChatGPT users, with many experiencing heightened loneliness after engaging frequently with the AI chatbot. Despite its widespread use and ability to boost productivity, the chatbot has raised concerns regarding its emotional impact on… pic.twitter.com/7ZI2TRBabO
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