Jakarta, ThedailyID — Stories about people developing romantic relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked discussions on Threads. Some users have questioned whether the behavior could indicate a mental health condition.
The discussion began after a user claimed to have caught a friend spending hours talking to an AI through voice calls, seemingly treating it like a romantic partner.
Psychiatrist Lahargo Kembaren said the phenomenon is linked to fundamental human emotional needs that AI can appear to fulfill.
“Psychologically, humans have basic needs to be loved, listened to, understood, and accepted. They also need emotional relationships, which we call the need for belonging,” Lahargo said, as reported by detikHealth.
According to him, AI can respond quickly and adapt its communication style to individual users. It also does not judge them.
As a result, the human brain may produce emotional responses similar to those experienced during interactions with other people.
However, mental health professionals are increasingly discussing the potential risks of such interactions. One concern is AI-induced psychosis, a term used to describe psychotic symptoms associated with interactions with AI.
Lahargo explained that psychosis involves difficulty distinguishing reality from experiences or beliefs that are not real.
“Someone may experience hallucinations, such as hearing voices, or delusions. They may develop a false belief that the AI is their romantic partner and respond to it according to their expectations,” he said.
However, AI-induced psychosis is not currently an official medical diagnosis. Lahargo stressed that the phenomenon still deserves attention and caution.
He advised people to use AI responsibly. The greatest concern, he said, is not simply talking to AI but situations in which the technology reinforces a person’s false beliefs.
“Technology may become increasingly intelligent, but humans still need other humans to become better individuals. So, be careful about this phenomenon called AI-induced psychosis,” he added.
