ChatGPT increases feelings of loneliness, study finds
Recently, a joint study conducted by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab found a correlation between ChatGPT use and feelings of loneliness.
Here's What We Know
One of them was conducted by OpenAI, analysing more than 40 million interactions with ChatGPT and user surveys, and the other by MIT Media Lab, where they studied the use of ChatGPT by participants over a four-week period. These studies have not yet been peer-reviewed.
The MIT study found several ways in which ChatGPT communication, both in text and voice formats, can affect a person's emotional state. The general conclusion is that the more users interact with ChatGPT, the more their loneliness increases and their socialisation decreases.
Illustration by OpenAI. Image: OpenAI
For example, participants who already had trust in the chatbot and emotional attachment in human relationships felt more lonely and emotionally dependent on ChatGPT during the study. However, this was less pronounced in ChatGPT's voice mode, especially when the bot spoke in a neutral tone. Discussing personal topics also often led to feelings of loneliness, while conversations on general topics were more likely to lead users to emotional dependence.
According to the OpenAI study, emotionally intense communication with ChatGPT was typical only for a small group of active users who used the Advanced Voice mode.
The studies have certain limitations, including a short observation period and the absence of a control group in the MIT study. Nevertheless, these findings confirm that communication with artificial intelligence can indeed have a psychological impact on users. This highlights the importance of understanding the implications if such communication becomes the norm in everyday life.
Source: OpenAI
