On Crisis Reports Mini-series #3: Can talking to a Chatbot affect our mental health?

As AI becomes a growing part of how people seek support, what happens when human connection is replaced by conversations with chatbots? This study followed nearly a thousand people over four weeks as they exchanged hundreds of thousands of messages with ChatGPT, examining how factors like tone, conversation style, and interaction type shape emotional wellbeing.

Tune in as we unpack what the researchers found, from the short-term comfort chatbots can provide, to the risks of emotional dependence and loneliness with heavy use. We also discuss what these findings mean for the future of mental health technology, and how to balance innovation with care, empathy, and safety.