By The Conversation
Publication Date: 2026-01-17 18:00:00
Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into everyday life, from chatbots that keep us company to algorithms that shape what we see online.
But as generative AI (genAI) becomes increasingly conversational, immersive and emotional, clinicians are asking themselves a difficult question: Can genAI worsen or even trigger psychosis in vulnerable people?
Large language models and chatbots are widely accessible and are often portrayed as supportive, empathetic, or even therapeutic. For most users, these systems are helpful or, at worst, harmless.
Related: Man hospitalized with psychiatric symptoms after AI advice
However, recently several media reports have reported people suffering from psychotic symptoms in which ChatGPT plays a prominent role.
For a small but significant group – people with psychotic disorders or those at high risk – their interactions with genAI can be far more complicated and dangerous, raising pressing questions for clinicians.
