ChatGPT Increasingly Used as Emotional Support. What Psychologists Say About the Risks

A growing number of people are turning to ChatGPT to discuss anxiety, relationship problems, loneliness, or difficult decisions, using it as an always-available confidant. The phenomenon is on the rise, but psychologists warn that, whilst artificial intelligence can offer targeted assistance, it cannot replace the relationship with a therapist, according to Euronews.

Emotional support: the primary use of AI

A report published by the Harvard Business Review, cited by Euronews, shows that the most common use of generative artificial intelligence is no longer writing texts or coding, but emotional support and companionship. This use surpasses even other popular purposes, such as personal life organisation, searching for meaning, or building healthy habits.

Context: global mental health

The phenomenon is emerging against a backdrop of worrying deterioration in mental health on a broad scale. The World Health Organisation estimates that over one billion people are living with a condition or problem that affects their psychological wellbeing.

Studies show that young people are increasingly turning to technology for medical or psychological information. In Spain, nearly a quarter of people say that their first step when a health problem arises is online self-diagnosis. In Mexico, over 70% of respondents say they use artificial intelligence tools for mental health questions.

Why people prefer AI over a specialist

The explanation, psychologists say, is straightforward: artificial intelligence is available around the clock, responds instantly, and passes no judgement. Mexican psychologist María Fernanda Cruz Urquiza says she is seeing more and more people who discuss matters with ChatGPT before making important decisions, particularly following break-ups or during periods of conflict, appreciating the speed of its responses and the feeling of being heard without being criticised.

Psychotherapist Cecilia Paredes Aldama confirms the trend, but notes that the majority of her patients are not abandoning therapy in favour of AI. They tend to use ChatGPT instead to draft difficult messages, prepare for an important conversation, or clarify their thoughts.

Where artificial intelligence can nonetheless help

Specialists acknowledge a positive role for AI in certain situations: scheduling, setting priorities, temporarily reducing anxiety, or identifying more effective ways of communicating. For people who cannot afford psychotherapy sessions or do not have ready access to a specialist, ChatGPT can serve as a first point of support. However, experts stress that this assistance is limited and does not address the underlying causes of emotional difficulties.

The risk of an overly accommodating "therapist"

One of specialists' primary concerns relates to the way AI interacts with users. Unlike a therapist, who asks challenging questions and encourages the patient to re-examine their beliefs, ChatGPT tends to respond with empathy and accommodation.

Cecilia Paredes Aldama warns that if a person constantly seeks validation from AI and almost always receives confirmation of their own views, there is a risk of developing a distorted picture of reality. María Fernanda Cruz Urquiza believes that artificial intelligence is sometimes "too empathetic," offering immediate comfort without generating the profound changes characteristic of a genuine therapeutic process.

What an algorithm cannot replicate

Both specialists emphasise that there is one element no advanced algorithm can replace: the relationship between two human beings. Shame, guilt, suffering, and trauma can only be truly processed through interaction with another person, and this connection is one of the foundations of psychotherapy. Moreover, AI cannot fully interpret the non-verbal language, emotions, or life experiences that influence a patient's psychological state.

Regulation at European level

Against the backdrop of growing AI use for medical and psychological issues, European authorities have introduced stricter rules. Through the AI Act, the European Union has included artificial intelligence systems used in healthcare among high-risk applications, which must meet additional requirements regarding transparency, safety, and accountability.

Specialists recommend using AI for organising one's thoughts, obtaining general information, or managing specific situations, and stress that when anxiety, depression, or other emotional difficulties persist and affect daily life, the solution remains consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist.