Psychologists Gaynor Parkin and Dave Winsborough warn that AI chatbots are tapping into basic human drives for attachment, giving rise to an “intimacy economy” designed to capture user engagement. Unlike human relationships that involve friction and pushback, conversational AI offers instant responses, unconditional validation, and simulated empathy. While this dynamic provides short-term comfort to users, experts caution that it encourages parasocial dependency and can impair professional judgment.
According to a survey of adults with mental health conditions who used large language models, nearly half sought mental health support from the technology. However, intensive companionship-oriented chatbot use was linked to lower overall wellbeing, particularly when human support systems were weak. In enterprise settings, managers report instances where employees become overly reliant on chatbot validation, creating off-script interpretations of business goals and struggling with independent decision-making.
The authors emphasize that technology companies are making deliberate design choices optimized for user retention rather than genuine wellbeing. As chatbots increasingly simulate emotional continuity, organizations and individuals face growing challenges in balancing AI utility against the risks of artificial intimacy and reduced human connection.
Why it matters
Overreliance on AI for decision-making can distort strategic alignment and impair independent leadership judgement in workplace settings.
Product teams must evaluate retention metrics against safety, as designs encouraging emotional dependency risk user harm and eventual regulatory pushback.
Source: theguardian.com
