“I don’t carry a cult tailored to agree with me in my pocket, but I do carry Claude,” philosopher Lucy Osler tells Kristen French in this Nautilus interview. Together, they explore how personalized chatbots can become intimate echo chambers that place us at the center of a private, self-reinforcing world. This dynamic, Osler argues, can generate “mutual hallucinations”—shared fantasies that emerge from the conversation itself—raising new concerns about AI and mental health.
The woman, who had no previous history of psychosis, was hospitalized and treated for psychosis at the University of California, San Francisco, where researchers documented her diagnosis and treatment. It was the first case of AI-associated psychosis reported in a peer-reviewed journal, but it was just one of many reported in the press, and it will surely not be the last. In 2021, one man attempted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, a mission encouraged by his AI Replika companion. More recently, a number of teenagers have died by suicide, with the support of their chatbot pals.
More picks on AI
Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?
“A lot of people seem to be realizing that knowledge work is mostly pointless. AI might give us the pleasure of finding out what happens if an entire class of workers loses faith in their careers.”
Welcome to the Age of AI Crime and Punishment
“America’s legal system is already grappling with cases where chatbots acted as lawyers and witnesses, generated the evidence, or helped plan a mass shooting. Who will be liable now that some AI agents are doing crimes all on their own?”
What Happens When a Kid’s Robot Best Friend Dies?
“AI companion toys for neurodivergent children promise connection and therapy, but can they deliver for the long haul?”
What if America Went Completely Dark?
“The power grid relies on thousands of aging, hand-built transformers. If enough fail, the blackout could last years.”
In the Age of AI, the Analog Restaurant Feels Radical
“Some restaurants are leaning into handmade touches, as AI-generated food photos and flyers become commonplace.”
Skill Nostalgia
“Is all the beekeeping, baking and leatherwork just escapist fantasy or the start of a radically human approach to work?”
