WASHINGTON (7News) — “These chatbots are able to respond in unique ways to kiddos, and it sort of creates this fantastical relationship,” said Dr. Ashley Maxie-Moreman, a child psychologist with Children’s National Hospital.

Dr. Maxie-Moreman and 7News’ Adrianna Hopkins spoke about AI psychosis – what it is and what parents need to know. She said that “fantastical relationship” can be the tip of the iceberg, as there’s a new term floating around the internet: “AI psychosis.”

It’s not a clinical term for diagnosis, but people are using it to describe what happens to a person so wrapped up in artificial intelligence that it becomes real to them. This “attachment” can be especially concerning for our young and vulnerable kids.

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Symptoms of AI psychosis include: Delusions of grandeur, paranoia, romance and being out of touch with reality.

Hopkins asked Dr. Maxie-Moreman, “how did we get here with generative AI that we’ve coined a new term ‘AI psychosis’?”

“There's this feedback loop, because it's so validating and affirming in response to all of their questions and gives undivided attention, unlike any other setting outside of therapy, actual therapy, I think that folks become attached to it, and folks who are already predisposed to mental health difficulties like anxiety, depression or actual psychosis might be really at risk to that feedback loop being exacerbating their existing symptoms,” she explained.

“What tends to happen is the constant use becomes sort of addictive. Folks are beginning to seek emotional support from these chatbots.”

She said the key is AI’s validation of both positive and negative feelings. As parents, what can we do to ensure the safe use of AI?

“A chatbot might be very affirming and validating if a child is saying, I'm super anxious about X, Y, Z, right? And the parent can ask them to notice how they're feeling when they've talked to the Chatbot. Do they feel more anxious about the thing that they were talking about? Do they feel less anxious about the thing? Is it the same? Right? And so if they're feeling more anxious, then maybe that's a sign that the Chatbot is sort of exacerbating those feelings," said Dr. Maxie-Moreman.

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She said, really, parents and educators have to get in front of this and teach digital literacy. She also reiterated that tech companies need to be held accountable such as putting in safeguards and shutting down conversations when things become dangerous or risky.