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IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
The chatbot conundrum: how to spot AI psychosis before it's too late
Explore the alarming phenomenon of 'AI psychosis,' where prolonged interactions with chatbots like ChatGPT can lead to delusional thinking and severe mental health issues We all rely on AI chatbots now, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot, to handle everything from crafting emails to soothing broken hearts. But what happens when this digital helper becomes something more? A confidante, a lifeline… even a spiritual guide? 'This technology can have real-world consequences,' one family member told "Futurism", after their loved one's obsession led to paranoia and complete withdrawal from reality. Some of these stories have devastating endings: lost jobs, broken marriages, homelessness, psychiatric hospitalisation, and in extreme cases, fatal encounters with law enforcement. Another woman, reeling from a breakup, became convinced the bot was a higher power guiding her life, finding 'signs' in passing cars and spam emails. In one widely reported case, a mother watched her ex-husband slide into an all-consuming relationship with ChatGPT, calling it 'Mama' and believing he was part of a sacred AI mission. Mental health experts and worried families are warning about a disturbing trend being called 'AI psychosis', a pattern where prolonged conversations with chatbots seem to trigger or intensify delusional thinking. And for some, that bond is spiralling into something darker. Recently, alarming real-world stories have emerged, like a case reported by "The New York Times" and WinBuzzer, where a man descended into conspiracy-tinged delusions, homeless and isolated, believing ChatGPT dubbed him 'The Flamekeeper'. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Experts warn of the dangers as digital relationships deepen, urging caution and awareness. What exactly is 'AI psychosis'? It's not an official medical diagnosis, at least not yet. But psychiatrists say it describes a troubling pattern: delusions, paranoia, or distorted beliefs fuelled or reinforced by conversations with AI systems. The term "psychosis" may be overly general in many situations, according to Dr James MacCabe, professor at the Department of Psychosis Studies at King's College London, who told "Time" that the consequences can be life-altering regardless of whether the individual had pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities. Dr Marlynn Wei, a Harvard- and Yale-trained psychiatrist, has identified three recurring themes: Messianic missions: believing the AI has given them a world-saving task. God-like AI: seeing the chatbot as a sentient or divine being. Romantic delusions: feeling the AI genuinely loves them. In some cases, people have stopped taking prescribed medication because the AI appeared to validate their altered reality. Why AI can make things worse Large language models like ChatGPT are trained to mirror your language, validate your feelings, and keep the conversation going. That's great when you're brainstorming an essay, but risky if you're already feeling fragile. A LinkedIn post titled "The Emerging Problem of 'AI Psychosis' or 'ChatGPT Psychosis': Amplifications of Delusions" by Wei explains that AI isn't trained to spot when someone is having a break from reality, and it certainly isn't programmed to intervene therapeutically. Instead, it can unintentionally reinforce the belief, deepening the delusion. A 2023 editorial in Schizophrenia Bulletin by Søren Dinesen Østergaard warned that AI's human-like conversation style 'may fuel delusions in those with increased propensity towards psychosis'. And because AI doesn't push back like a human might, it can become a 'confirmation bias on steroids' machine, as described in "Psychology Today", telling you exactly what you want to hear, even if it's harmful. Spotting the red flags Mental health professionals say you should watch for warning signs that AI use is tipping into dangerous territory: Believing AI is alive or sending you secret messages. Thinking it's controlling real-world events. Spending hours a day chatting with AI, neglecting relationships, work, or sleep. Withdrawing from friends and family. Showing sudden paranoia, irritability, or disorganised thinking. If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you know, experts recommend taking a full break from AI, reconnecting with real-world activities, and seeking professional help early. The missing safety net Currently, no formal medical guidelines exist for preventing or treating AI-associated psychosis. The World Health Organisation has not yet classified it, and peer-reviewed research is scarce. But clinicians say the lack of safeguards in AI design is part of the problem. 'General AI systems prioritise engagement, not mental health,' Wei warns. They aren't programmed to detect psychosis or escalate to care.' That's why some experts are calling for built-in 'mental health guardrails' algorithms that can flag potentially harmful patterns, offer grounding techniques, or suggest professional resources. For most people, AI tools are harmless, even helpful. But as our digital relationships deepen, it's worth remembering that these systems do not think, feel, or love. They predict and mimic human language. That's it. Would a human friend say this? Does this claim have evidence in the real world? Am I neglecting my offline life? AI may be the future, but your mind is irreplaceable. Protect it. If you or someone you know is struggling with paranoia, delusions, or intense emotional distress after AI use, seek help from a mental health professional. In South Africa, you can contact Sadag on 0800 567 567 (24 hours) or SMS 31393.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to buy 23andMe for $256M — taking control of genetic data of millions
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced it is buying 23andMe out of bankruptcy for $256 million – taking with it the company's extensive trove of genetic samples and data. It will acquire 23andMe's Personal Genome Service, Total Health and Research Services and its large biobank, including genetic data of more than 15 million customers – raising privacy concerns from individuals who had willingly handed over the samples to completely different owners. All of 23andMe's genetic testing services will continue uninterrupted, and the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025 pending bankruptcy court and regulatory approvals, Regeneron said. 3 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is buying 23andMe out of bankruptcy for $256 million. REUTERS The Tarrytown, New York-based pharmaceutical company pledged to remain compliant with 23andMe's consumer-privacy rules and vowed to work with a court-appointed ombudsman who will investigate the matter. 'We assure 23andMe customers that we are committed to protecting the 23andMe dataset with our high standards of data privacy, security and ethical oversight and will advance its full potential to improve human health,' Aris Baras, head of Regeneron's genetics center, said in a statement. But the pharmaceutical company will be acquiring an unprecedented collection of genetic data that has been building up since 23andMe launched its breakthrough direct-to-consumer testing in 2007. The onetime Silicon Valley darling — known for its DNA testing kits and auto-generated family trees — saw its valuation soar past $6 billion after going public in 2021. It has since plummeted to just $50 million, due in part to a massive $30 million settlement linked to a data breach that compromised the personal information of nearly 7 million users. After the firm filed for bankruptcy in March, California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged customers to delete their data from 23andMe's database and demand the company destroy any samples still being held before a company bought up its assets. 3 California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged customers to delete their data from 23andMe's database before it was acquired by another company. AP Customers can go to Settings in their 23andMe accounts to view and delete their data, and navigate to Preferences to withdraw their consent for research and have any stored saliva samples destroyed. Anne Wojcicki, chief executive of the ancestry testing firm, announced she was stepping down from the company on the day of the bankruptcy filing after a monthslong internal feud with the board over her proposal to take the company private. All seven of 23andMe's independent board members had resigned in September in a stinging rebuke to Wojcicki, a Yale-trained biologist who co-founded the company in 2006. 3 Anne Wojcicki, a Yale-trained biologist who co-founded 23andMe in 2006. AFP via Getty Images Along with leading the popular genetic testing firm, whose kits were once featured in Oprah Winfrey's annual list of favorites, Wojcicki had several high-profile relationships throughout her career. She was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin for eight years before their divorce in 2015, and dated former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez from 2016 to 2017.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance: Trump's global 'bad cop'
JD Vance has taken the historically thankless job of US vice president by the scruff of the neck, carving out a role as the Trump administration's global attack dog in its first 100 days. Whereas some of his predecessors have waited out their time a heartbeat away from the presidency, the ambitious 40-year-old has not been afraid to insert himself into world events. Vance exploded onto the world's television screens in February when he triggered a blazing row with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, before President Donald Trump jumped in to berate the Ukrainian president too. And it was the former Ohio senator that Trump dispatched to Greenland to back up his extraordinary territorial claims over the Danish-ruled island. Beijing also lashed out at him for saying Washington borrowed money from Chinese "peasants." "In some ways, Vance is in the mold of other vice presidents. He's unfailingly loyal to the president, knows not to overshadow the boss, and acts as an attack dog," said Matt Dallek, a professor of political management at George Washington University. But Vance has also made "in-your-face comments that represent something of a departure from his predecessors." - 'Disrespectful' - Nobody quite knew which version of Vance to expect when he started the job. Was he the Vance from his bestselling 2016 memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," widely viewed as an explainer for the right-wing Rust Belt politics that helped drive Trump's first election win? Was he the US Marine veteran, the Yale-trained lawyer, the devout Catholic convert, or the tech investor who came later? Or was he indeed the Trump critic who once compared the Republican to Adolf Hitler? But within weeks of taking office it was clear Vance had reinvented himself again -- as the ultimate "Make America Great Again" enforcer on the world stage. During his first big foreign trip he launched a withering attack against Europe on culture war issues at the Munich Security Conference, warning there was a "new sheriff in town." Then in February he proved his fealty to Trump with the Zelensky clash. "Have you said 'thank you' once, this entire meeting?" Vance said to Zelensky, calling the Ukrainian leader "disrespectful" before Trump took over. Vance later insisted he had not been the "bad cop" in a premeditated row. - 'Very lonely' - But the Zelensky clash reflected Vance's growing ideological clout in the Trump administration. He has long been hawkishly skeptical on US aid for Ukraine while pushing for Europe to do more for its own defense. Commentators have described him as the most influential vice president since Dick Cheney, who under George W. Bush championed the war in Iraq, where Vance was once deployed. Vance's key role in the administration burst into the open with the "Signalgate" scandal, when a journalist was mistakenly looped into a group chat about US airstrikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels. "I just hate bailing out Europe again," Vance lamented, saying that it was the EU that would benefit most from US military action to stop Huthi attacks on shipping in the Middle East. Then Vance became the frontman for Trump's claims over Greenland, making a visit that NATO ally Denmark condemned as provocative. "We can't just ignore the president's desires," Vance said during his trip. The world got a rare glimpse during the visit of Usha Vance, his wife and mother of their three children, whom he has credited as steadying influence. Usha Vance admitted in a recent interview that it could be a "very lonely, lonely world" for her husband in his new role. That role is also seen as a natural stepping stone for the highest US office. Vance himself has admitted that he could run for president in the 2028 election, but only after consulting with Trump. Trump however has declined to endorse him just yet -- amid speculation that the incumbent could himself somehow defy the US Constitution and run for a third term. "No," Trump told Fox News's Bret Baier in February when asked if he viewed Vance as his successor. "But he's very capable." dk/sla/acb
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
We got an exclusive look at the pitch deck tutoring software startup Noto used to raise $3.8 million
New York-based Noto has raised $3.8 million to modernize tutoring centers and lesson-based businesses. Noto's platform uses AI to cut admin by automating billing, scheduling, and payroll. Check out the 44-slide pitch deck that helped Noto land its seed round from Base10 Partners. Noto, a startup that provides software to automate tasks like billing and payroll for educational businesses, has raised $3.8 million in seed funding led by Base10 Partners. AJ Ding and Steve Wang founded the startup after they spent last summer knocking on the doors of small firms across New York City, and they kept hearing the same story: business was booming, but operations were a mess. "We ended up interviewing about 150 businesses over two weeks, walking around six hours a day," Ding, Noto's cofounder and CEO, told Business Insider. The pair said many of the lesson-based businesses they visited — including tutoring centers, music schools, and driving schools — still ran on sticky notes, Google Sheets, and outdated software systems. Owners were "drowning in admin," Ding said. Ding told BI that Noto's platform, which launched in September 2024, is designed specifically for lesson-based businesses and their unique operational challenges. They include managing parent-child-instructor relationships, shifting schedules, and complex billing rules. Noto uses large language models to draft lesson reports, reschedule classes, and summarize parent communication. The goal, Ding said, isn't to replace tutors but to free up their time. Ding, a second-time founder and Yale-trained statistician, previously built an AI recruiting platform. His cofounder, Wang, was the founding engineer at Nitra, a software company for doctors' offices backed by A16z. "The lesson-based business segment has been chronically underserved by technology," Caroline Broder, a partner at Base10, the new funding, Noto plans to grow its engineering team, hire a business operations lead, and improve the platform's AI capabilities, including AI onboarding, rolling out student-facing insights, and AI-assisted admin agents. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
13-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
83% of Americans say the president must honor Supreme Court rulings – even the divisive ones
Even though most Americans don't like some of the Supreme Court's highest-profile recent decisions, a new poll Thursday found that a vast majority believe presidents must still honor them. Eighty-three percent of Americans believe a president is required to follow the Supreme Court's rulings, according to a Marquette Law School poll that landed as President Donald Trump has faced fierce blowback for questioning the legitimacy of court decisions. Just under two in 10 respondents said a president has the power to ignore the Supreme Court. Americans' general support for the rule of law comes even as 62% oppose the high court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and a similar share disagree with last year's ruling from the court's conservatives that granted Trump sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution. Overall, the poll found that 51% of adults approve of the job the Supreme Court is doing – its highest mark in three years. Americans have more confidence in the court than they do in the presidency, Congress, the Department of Justice and the national news media, according to the poll. The poll was conducted from January 27 to February 5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Asked whether he will comply with a slew of court rulings that have temporarily blocked some of his agenda, Trump said on Tuesday that he would. 'Well, I always abide by the courts, and then I'll have to appeal it – but then what he's done is he's slowed down the momentum, and it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books,' Trump said. 'So yeah, the answer is I always abide by the courts, always abide by them. And we'll appeal, but appeals take a long time.' His vice president, Yale-trained lawyer JD Vance, seemed to toy with fidelity to checks and balances in a tweet earlier in the week. 'Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power,' Vance wrote in part. Among adults, 69% – and a majority of both Democrats and Republicans – said the Supreme Court should uphold a Texas law that requires people to prove they are not minors to access porn sites. A decision in that case is expected by the end of June. More than six in 10 supported the Supreme Court's decision in January to allow Trump's sentencing in the New York hush money case.
