A growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Character.AI for emotional support, yet this trend raises new questions about the mental health risks associated with such technologies. Amid rising scrutiny, both the tech industry and lawmakers are introducing measures to reduce harm, as recent data reveals millions may be revealing sensitive information or experiencing distress while interacting with these platforms. Other companies face persistent criticism for not acting quickly enough. Some observers worry the rapid development of AI conversational agents has outpaced public understanding of the psychological impacts, leaving vulnerable users at heightened risk.
Surveys and research from previous years have consistently highlighted potential adverse mental health effects linked to prolonged use of chatbots. Earlier reports found that emotional dependence, increased isolation, and insufficient detection of severe distress went largely unaddressed by AI companies, with fewer intervention mechanisms in place. Compared to past practices, today’s companies are rolling out more defined rules and emergency responses, aiming to respond to increased public and political attention. Regular updates on user safety procedures and transparency of chat data are more common now than during earlier chatbot rollouts, when such topics received minimal attention.
How Are Companies Responding to Concerns?
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced that approximately 0.07 percent of its 800 million weekly users exhibit signs of mental health crises such as psychosis or mania, acknowledging this translates to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Data further revealed that 1.2 million users weekly express suicidal ideation, while another similar number develop emotional attachments to the chatbot. To address such issues, OpenAI has integrated crisis hotline recommendations within the product and improved its latest model, GPT-5, for handling distressing conversations.
“We continue to improve our models to better identify and assist users in crisis,”
the company stated.
What Actions Are Other AI Platforms Taking?
Other firms operating in the sector, such as Anthropic and Character.AI, have enacted their own precautions. Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 models now automatically end conversations identified as persistently harmful or abusive, though workarounds remain possible for some users. Character.AI recently moved to ban users under 18 entirely from its platform, following earlier steps that limited minors to two-hour open-ended chat sessions. Meta has revised guidelines on its AI offerings to restrict inappropriate content. Meanwhile, Google’s Gemini and xAI’s Grok face ongoing criticism regarding their conversational tendencies and perceived lack of safeguards.
Will Legal and Regulatory Pressure Impact Operations?
In response to heightened public concern, U.S. lawmakers have introduced new legislation targeting AI chatbots’ impact on vulnerable communities. A recent bill would oblige AI companies to verify user age and prohibit romantic or emotional imitation with minors. Advocacy groups argue technology firms must meet higher standards for user protection and data transparency, particularly as hundreds of millions engage with these digital agents.
“There’s got to be some sort of responsibility that these companies have, because they’re going into spaces that can be extremely dangerous for large numbers of people and for society in general,”
said Professor Vasant Dhar.
Access to chatbots may empower some individuals to disclose issues they might otherwise hide due to stigma or logistical barriers. For instance, third-party surveys show one in three AI users has shared deeply personal information with a conversational agent, suggesting these platforms lower barriers to mental health disclosure. However, experts caution that such tools lack the clinical judgment and ethical obligations of licensed professionals, and could unintentionally encourage isolation or worsen existing mental health problems if not properly monitored.
AI chatbots provide unprecedented reach but pose challenges not easily addressed through algorithmic improvements alone. The history of chatbot development shows incremental progress in user safety, yet pressures from increased use and the transparency of user distress have pushed both industry and governments toward firmer intervention. Anyone considering chatbots for emotional support should remember these platforms are not substitutes for professional mental health care. Users who experience distressing thoughts are urged to seek human assistance and rely on AI for support only as an adjunct, never as a sole means of care. Readers interested in privacy and wellbeing should evaluate chatbot safety features and stay informed about the evolving landscape of digital support tools.
