The president of the International Federation of Emergency Psychology, Diego Nunez, says that discussing the symptoms of an illness with AI can increase anxiety:.
If a person who is in a vulnerable state and inherently has anxiety and hypochondriacal traits asks the AI about some symptom the AI will not argue with the irrationality of their thoughts, as a therapist would. Instead, it will give new reasons for concern. As a result, thoughts begin to wander in circles, everything is presented in a worse light, and the anxiety only grows stronger.
Communication with artificial intelligence can also cause real anxiety and stimulate or reinforce unhealthy thought patterns. But, as with any technology, the point is not in the machine itself, but in the way in which the features of the algorithm are combined with the vulnerability of the user's psyche and mind. Giving artificial intelligence human qualities is also a risk. It is most common among teenagers and young adults aged 12 to 25, who use neural networks to help them learn and provide emotional support. On the other hand, older people are less likely to humanize neural networks.