By Alexandre Hudon
Publication Date: 2026-04-08 16:21:00
According to recent estimates, generative AI chatbots are now used by more than 987 million people worldwide, including about 64 percent of American teenagers. More and more people are using these chatbots for advice, emotional support, therapy and companionship.
What happens when people rely on AI chatbots in moments of psychological vulnerability? We’ve seen the media investigate some tragic cases involving allegations that AI chatbots were involved in wrongful death cases. And a jury in Los Angeles recently found Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design features that led to mental health problems among users.
Read more: Neuroscience explains why teenagers are so vulnerable to Big Tech’s social media platforms
Does media coverage reflect the true risks of generative AI to our mental health?
Our team recently conducted a study examining how global media reports on the mental health impact of generative AI chatbots. We analyzed 71 messages…
