What if you had a friend who agreed with everything you said or did? No questions, no opinions, and absolutely no pushback. Sure, initially, it would feel like you had found the best person in the entire universe, only to realise later that it is exactly like looking at your own reflection in a mirror, with no scope for growth at all. Isn’t that exactly what talking to ChatGPT feels like?
It listens, responds, and often appears to agree. Today, many people, especially Gen Z, have turned to AI chatbots like ChatGPT to confide their feelings. But is ChatGPT really as good a listener as we think it is?
ChatGPT as a Therapist?
The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. As the internet becomes the primary source of connection for many young people, real, face-to-face interactions are losing their appeal. Young people, often fearing judgment, hesitate to talk openly about their mental health struggles and personal issues.
This is where AI chatbots like ChatGPT enter the picture.
According to a 2025 study published in JAMA Network Open, which included approximately 1,058 children and young adults aged 12 to 21, about 13 per cent of respondents reported using AI for mental health-related advice. Of this group, nearly 66 per cent engaged with AI tools monthly, and 93 per cent found the interactions helpful.
The study further found that young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 were more likely to use AI for counselling, with nearly 22 per cent indicating they were open to using a chatbot for support.
Ateev Mehrotra, co-author of the study and professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, stated, “I think the most striking finding was that already, in late 2025, more than one in ten adolescents and young adults were using generative AI systems for mental health advice, and that it was higher among young adults.” He added, “I find those rates remarkably high.”
These figures point to a growing dependence among young people on AI chatbots like ChatGPT. However, this raises an important question: Is this reliance helping or harming the way young people process their emotions?
According to a 2023 study by the International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, cited in The Indian Express, “The interaction between humans and AI systems has evolved from mere task delegation to forming pseudo-relationships, where users often turn to AI for guidance and comfort.”
Unlike human relationships, interactions with AI are inherently one-sided. Chatbots analyse a user’s language patterns and mirror them back, creating the illusion of being understood. It is ironic that in a world where people constantly surround us, many choose a faceless chatbot, devoid of emotions, for emotional validation.
Read More: Do You Also Make ChatGPT Edit Your WhatsApp Messages Before Sending?
What Experts Say About This
Dr Shruti Tambe, Head of the Sociology Department at Savitribai Phule Pune University, explains, “You have the highest population in the world, and yet people are turning to AI for companionship. Socially, this is a major contradiction of our times.” She adds, “People don’t want a critical exchange; they want validation of their thoughts and emotions.”
A Frontiers study titled Emotional AI and the Rise of Pseudo-Intimacy: Are We Trading Authenticity for Algorithmic Affection? highlights that certain groups are at the greatest risk of displacement. These include elderly individuals dealing with isolation and teenagers navigating identity crises, anxiety, or depression.
The study notes that people with limited access to care may begin to treat AI not as a tool, but as a substitute for human connection. This can lead to withdrawal from real-world relationships and increased reliance on the predictable comfort of a machine that never challenges them.
Adding to this perspective, therapist and psychologist Shreya Subbannavar told The Indian Express, “There has certainly been an increase in people turning to AI for emotional support. While it’s understandable to reach out in times of distress, what AI cannot offer is continuity of care and genuine human connection.”
She further explains, “As we move away from collectivist structures, there is a risk of feeling more isolated in our experiences, which can lead to shame and make it harder to seek support from others.”
In essence, as AI becomes embedded in every aspect of modern life, chatbots like ChatGPT may help bridge the gap between vulnerability and expression. For some, they may serve as a first step towards articulating emotions more clearly.
However, when this support becomes a substitute for real social interaction, it can do more harm than good. These tools are designed to recognise patterns and respond to prompts. They have no emotions of their own and can only reflect what the user brings to them.
In the end, something that always agrees may feel comforting, but genuine healing often begins when someone is willing to question you, not just affirm you.
Images: Google Images
Sources: The Indian Express, Frontiers, JAMA Network
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: AI and Mental Health, ChatGPT, Gen Z and Therapy, Artificial Intelligence, Emotional AI, Pseudo-Intimacy, Digital Loneliness, Mental Health Awareness, Technology and Society, Youth Mental Health, AI Ethics, Social Isolation, Online Therapy, Human Connection
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used; these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly email us.
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