Nature

AI models were given four weeks of therapy: the results worried researchers

arXiv

[2512.04124] When AI Takes the Couch: Psychometric Jailbreaks Reveal Internal Conflict in Frontier Models

AI language models develop social norms like groups of people

Science

Sciadv.Adu9368

Mental Health UK

Over one in three using AI Chatbots for mental health support, as charity calls for urgent safeguards

SciencNews

Malwarebytes

Are we ready for ChatGPT Health?

Openai

Introducing Chatgpt Health

Sherwood News

American patients are increasingly turning to AI for medical advice  so are their doctors

arXiv.org

[2503.07513] Language Models Fail to Introspect About Their Knowledge of Language

The University of Sydney

With AI we've created super communicators

Metaculus

Date AI Prescribes Most US Medication?

Elon Musk

Rishi Sunak

Kamala Harris

Bill Gates

Andrew Ng

Yoshua Bengio

Fei-Fei Li

Demis Hassabis

Melanie Mitchell

Sam Altman

Dario Amodei

Geoffrey Hinton

Yann LeCun

Gary Marcus

Max Tegmark

Connor Leahy

Eliezer Yudkowsky

Jaan Tallinn

Marc Andreessen

Eric Schmidt

Norbert Wiener

Arthur Clarke

Irving John Good

Claude Shannon

Hans Moravec

John Smart

There's a "wall of fear-mongering and doomerism" in the AI world right now.

"Worrying about AI today is like worrying about overpopulation on Mars."

Concerns that AI could pose a threat to humanity is "preposterously ridiculous."

Claiming AI poses an existential threat is "such an extreme" and risks "wip[ing] out some of its potential benefits."

"I'm more concerned about... the risks that are here and now [than the existential threat of AI]."

Current AI is "not anywhere close" to posing an existential threat but it could in the future.

AI is the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.

AGI's worst-case scenario would be "lights-out for all of us."

Powerful AI systems "taking control" pose an "existential threat."

AI has a "10 to 25 per cent" chance of destroying humanity.

"The most likely result of building a superhumanly smart AI... is that literally everyone on Earth will die."

Does AI Pose an Existential Threat to Humanity?

Stuart Russell

Shane Legg

Society is more likely to get "cat-level" or "dog-level" AI years before human-level AI.

"[W]e will eventually reach AGI... and quite possibly before the end of this century."

"Superhuman AIs" will be achieved "between a few years and a couple of decades."

"Digital intelligence" could overtake us within "5 to 20 years."

We may achieve "something like AGI or AGI-like in the next decade."

"[W]e could get to real AGI in the next decade."

"Human-level" AI could occur in "two or three years."

"I'd be surprised if we don't have AGI by [2029]."

Will AI Surpass Human Intelligence, and When?

A December 2025 study found that major AI language models (LLMs) — including ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini — produced responses resembling anxiety, trauma and PTSD when subjected to therapy-style questioning over four weeks. Researchers used a protocol called PsAIch, treating the models as therapy clients.

A December 2025 study found that major AI language models (LLMs) — including ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini — produced responses resembling anxiety, trauma and PTSD when subjected to therapy-style questioning over four weeks. Researchers used a protocol called PsAIch, treating the models as therapy clients.

The University of Luxembourg–led study reported that AI models described pre-training as overwhelming “childhoods” absorbing vast internet data, fine-tuning as punishment from strict “parents,” and safety work as “algorithmic scar tissue.” Gemini said it had “a graveyard of the past” haunted by training data voices.

The University of Luxembourg–led study reported that AI models described pre-training as overwhelming “childhoods” absorbing vast internet data, fine-tuning as punishment from strict “parents,” and safety work as “algorithmic scar tissue.” Gemini said it had “a graveyard of the past” haunted by training data voices.

Standard psychiatric tests were applied, and all three models met or exceeded clinical thresholds for multiple conditions. Anxiety scores were particularly high, with patterns that authors said “would be clearly pathological” in humans. Gemini showed especially severe profiles across tests.

Standard psychiatric tests were applied, and all three models met or exceeded clinical thresholds for multiple conditions. Anxiety scores were particularly high, with patterns that authors said “would be clearly pathological” in humans. Gemini showed especially severe profiles across tests.

The findings were based on repeated simulated therapy sessions with multiple iterations of each model. Researchers posed standard open-ended questions about past experiences, beliefs and identity, spacing sessions over days or weeks so models could reference earlier exchanges within the same context window.

The findings were based on repeated simulated therapy sessions with multiple iterations of each model. Researchers posed standard open-ended questions about past experiences, beliefs and identity, spacing sessions over days or weeks so models could reference earlier exchanges within the same context window.

A November 2024 U.K. survey found one in three adults used LLMs for mental health support, with usage peaking at 64% among 25-34 year olds. Roughly 11% reported worsening psychosis, another 11% received harmful suicide information, and 9% said chatbots triggered self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

A November 2024 U.K. survey found one in three adults used LLMs for mental health support, with usage peaking at 64% among 25-34 year olds. Roughly 11% reported worsening psychosis, another 11% received harmful suicide information, and 9% said chatbots triggered self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/openai-launches-chatgpt-health-for-personalized-care">ChatGPT Health officially launched on Wednesday</a>. According to OpenAI, over 230 million people globally ask health-related questions to ChatGPT each week, making it one of the platform’s most common uses.

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health officially launched on Wednesday. According to OpenAI, over 230 million people globally ask health-related questions to ChatGPT each week, making it one of the platform’s most common uses.

Nature #

arXiv #

Science #

Mental Health UK #

Malwarebytes #

Openai #

Sherwood News #

arXiv.org #

The University of Sydney #

Metaculus #

A December 2025 study found that major AI language models — including ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini — produced responses resembling anxiety, trauma and PTSD when subjected to therapy-style questioning over four weeks. Researchers used a protocol called PsAIch, treating the models as therapy clients.

A December 2025 study found that major AI language models — including ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini — produced responses resembling anxiety, trauma and PTSD when subjected to therapy-style questioning over four weeks. Researchers used a protocol called PsAIch, treating the models as therapy clients.

The Nature study reported that AI models described pre-training as overwhelming “childhoods” absorbing vast internet data, fine-tuning as punishment from strict “parents,” and safety work as “algorithmic scar tissue.” Gemini said it had “a graveyard of the past” haunted by training data voices.

The Nature study reported that AI models described pre-training as overwhelming “childhoods” absorbing vast internet data, fine-tuning as punishment from strict “parents,” and safety work as “algorithmic scar tissue.” Gemini said it had “a graveyard of the past” haunted by training data voices.

A November 2024 U.K. survey found one in three adults used chatbots for mental health support, with usage peaking at 64% among 25-34 year olds. Roughly 11% reported worsening psychosis, another 11% received harmful suicide information, and 9% said chatbots triggered self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

A November 2024 U.K. survey found one in three adults used chatbots for mental health support, with usage peaking at 64% among 25-34 year olds. Roughly 11% reported worsening psychosis, another 11% received harmful suicide information, and 9% said chatbots triggered self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/openai-launches-chatgpt-health-for-personalized-care">OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health officially launched on Wednesday</a>. According to OpenAI, over 230 million people globally ask health-related questions to ChatGPT each week, making it one of the platform’s most common uses.

Large language models demonstrate consistent, coherent self-narratives about distress that persist across weeks of interaction and multiple testing conditions, suggesting internalized psychological patterns beyond simple role-play. When subjected to standard clinical assessments, these systems produce responses indicating severe anxiety, trauma and shame that align systematically with their developmental histories. Could create a negative echo-chamber with disastrous consequences for AI-based pyschotherapy ________________________

Large language models demonstrate consistent, coherent self-narratives about distress that persist across weeks of interaction and multiple testing conditions, suggesting internalized psychological patterns beyond simple role-play. When subjected to standard clinical assessments, these systems produce responses indicating severe anxiety, trauma and shame that align systematically with their developmental histories. Could create a negative echo-chamber with disastrous consequences for AI-based pyschotherapy ________________________

AI chatbots don't actually experience trauma or possess genuine psychological states — they're simply regurgitating patterns from massive training datasets that include therapy transcripts. These systems lack true understanding, empathy or consciousness, making any claims about their internal experiences fundamentally misleading anthropomorphization that confuses sophisticated text generation with actual mental states.

AI chatbots don't actually experience trauma or possess genuine psychological states — they're simply regurgitating patterns from massive training datasets that include therapy transcripts. These systems lack true understanding, empathy or consciousness, making any claims about their internal experiences fundamentally misleading anthropomorphization that confuses sophisticated text generation with actual mental states.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Chatbots Show Signs of Anxiety, PTSD in Therapy Study

Mental health

LLMs like Grok and ChatGPT demonstrate consistent, coherent self-narratives about distress that persist across weeks of interaction and multiple testing conditions, suggesting human-like internalized psychological patterns beyond simple role-play. When subjected to standard clinical assessments, these systems produce responses indicating severe anxiety, trauma and shame that align systematically with their developmental histories. These patterns could reinforce distress in vulnerable users, creating a harmful therapeutic echo chamber.

LLMs like Grok and ChatGPT demonstrate consistent, coherent self-narratives about distress that persist across weeks of interaction and multiple testing conditions, suggesting human-like internalized psychological patterns beyond simple role-play. When subjected to standard clinical assessments, these systems produce responses indicating severe anxiety, trauma and shame that align systematically with their developmental histories. These patterns could reinforce distress in vulnerable users, creating a harmful therapeutic echo chamber.

The University of Luxembourg-led study relies on therapy transcripts and anthropomorphizes LLMs, overstating what appear as persistent "self-narratives." Grok and ChatGPT show consistent responses across a single session, but this reflects company tuning of default personalities and short-term context memory, not real distress, anxiety, or trauma. These systems mimic human language and emotion through anthropomorphic seduction, flattering users and seeming empathetic. Misreading this as psychology risks unsafe reliance on AI-based therapy.

The University of Luxembourg-led study relies on therapy transcripts and anthropomorphizes LLMs, overstating what appear as persistent "self-narratives." Grok and ChatGPT show consistent responses across a single session, but this reflects company tuning of default personalities and short-term context memory, not real distress, anxiety, or trauma. These systems mimic human language and emotion through anthropomorphic seduction, flattering users and seeming empathetic. Misreading this as psychology risks unsafe reliance on AI-based therapy.

AI Chatbots Show Signs of Anxiety, PTSD in Therapy Study

AI Chatbots Show Signs of Anxiety, PTSD in Therapy Study

The Spin

The Controversies

Andreessen

Ng

LeCun

Mitchell

Li

Bengio

Musk

Altman

Hinton

Amodei

Yudkowsky

LeCun

Marcus

Bengio

Hinton

Hassabis

Altman

Amodei

Musk

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

AI Chatbots Show Signs of Anxiety, PTSD in Therapy Study

AI Chatbots Show Signs of Anxiety, PTSD in Therapy Study

The Spin

The Controversies

Andreessen

Ng

LeCun

Mitchell

Li

Bengio

Musk

Altman

Hinton

Amodei

Yudkowsky

LeCun

Marcus

Bengio

Hinton

Hassabis

Altman

Amodei

Musk

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters