If you spend a lot of time chatting with AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini, you might want to take a closer look at your mental health.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that people who use AI chatbots every day are more likely to experience depression.
The study was led by Dr. Roy Perlis, a psychiatrist and director of the Center for Quantitative Health at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. His team found that regular AI use was strongly connected to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability.
According to the research, age seems to matter. People between 45 and 64 years old who used AI often were 54% more likely to have depression symptoms. Among those aged 25 to 44, the risk was 32% higher. This suggests that some age groups may be more affected by the emotional effects of frequent AI use.
The study surveyed nearly 21,000 adults in the U.S. between April and May 2025. Researchers asked participants how often they used AI and gave them a standard questionnaire to measure symptoms of depression. About 10% of those surveyed said they use AI daily, and over 5% said they use it multiple times each day.
But here’s the tricky part—this study cannot say for sure if using AI causes depression or if people who already feel depressed are more likely to use AI for comfort and support.
Dr. Sunny Tang, a psychiatrist at Northwell Health in New York, who was not involved in the study, agrees. She said that people who already feel lonely or anxious might turn to AI for help or companionship. Some might use AI to feel heard, validated, or simply to fight loneliness.
Dr. Tang explained that in today’s world, many people feel isolated. Remote work and lifestyle changes have left people feeling more alone than before. Since loneliness is a known risk factor for depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems, it’s possible that lonely people are seeking out AI conversations as a form of connection.
She also pointed out that we need to look at the relationship from both directions. While AI might affect our mental health, our mental health might also affect how we interact with AI.
These findings suggest that companies building AI tools should pay close attention to how their products are used, especially by people dealing with mental health challenges. Dr. Tang stressed that these companies should focus on doing no harm—and consider how to support users who might be feeling down or struggling emotionally.
Dr. Tang believes that better safety features are needed to make sure AI tools don’t accidentally make mental health problems worse. For example, AI should avoid giving harmful advice or reinforcing negative thoughts. Instead, AI tools could be built to be more helpful and supportive for people with emotional needs.
This study highlights an important issue. As more people turn to AI for support, connection, or just conversation, it’s crucial to understand how these interactions affect our mental health. The hope is that future AI tools will be designed in a way that supports well-being, not just answers questions.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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