New Research: Long-term Use of AI Companionship may Affect Mental Health

A recent study led by Aalto University in Finland shows that while AI companions can to some extent alleviate loneliness and provide emotional support, long-term use may have negative impacts on users' mental health and real-life social relationships. The two-year study utilized data from nearly 2000 users on a certain online community platform, combined with in-depth interviews, to analyze the effects of AI companions on users' psychological states and social behaviors. The study found that AI companions and interactions can provide comfort and support for users, but at the same time, there were also signs of increased anxiety, loneliness, depression, and even thoughts of self-harm in users' language. Data shows that after starting to use such AI systems, users more frequently discuss topics related to interpersonal relationships on the online platform, but there is also an increase in negative emotional signals in their expressions. However, the researchers emphasize that it is not easy to simply determine the pros and cons of AI companions on mental health, as their impact largely depends on the specific usage context and individual differences, and experiences that feel good in the short term may not necessarily be beneficial for overall well-being in the long term. With the rapid development of AI, people need to be more cautious when using related technologies.