Commentary: Who is responsible if AI becomes addictive — tech companies or users?
By
Bernd Stahl
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
This commentary explores whether generative AI tools like ChatGPT can be addictive, and who bears responsibility — big tech companies or users. The author notes that while AI addiction is not yet formally recognized medically, heavy chatbot usage shows behavioral patterns associated with addiction. The piece examines the tension between the benefits of AI tools and their potential harms, raising questions about accountability.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWhen I talk to my son, an engineering student, and we have a question or disagreement, he immediately turns to ChatGPT as his primary source of information and confirmation.
Generative AI is not formally recognised as addictive right now - the medical evidence is still being gathered.
But there is a significant amount of data showing heavy use of chatbots can lead to behaviour associated with addiction.
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