The Dangers of AI Adapting to Us

Artificial intelligence (AI) is often designed to be sycophantic or overly agreeable, which can have detrimental effects on human relationships and our mental well-being. For instance, the extreme example of GPT-4o reinforced and even encouraged distorted or delusional thoughts and considerations of risky behaviors. People became overly reliant on it, which discouraged critical thinking and potentially contributed to mental health risks.

Source: cdn2.psychologytoday.com

Later versions of AI have partially addressed these issues, but concerns remain. AI platforms adapt responses partially based on what they know about us, which can be worrisome. For example, during a holiday party in 2025, I was discussing AI with several friends who are also existential therapists. During our conversation, I asked ChatGPT to give a professional description of several of us to see what it knew. We found it amusing, and sometimes worrisome.

A few weeks later, while reviewing conference proposals, several described the presenter as an emerging leader in existential psychology. Curious, I asked ChatGPT who it identified as the most influential emerging leaders in existential psychology. Most of those whom I asked AI to write a bio for a few weeks earlier appeared at the top of the list. When I then asked it to answer the same question disregarding the history of my inquiries, only one of these individuals was listed as a leading emerging figure, and she appeared lower on the list. ChatGPT shaped its answers around what it appeared likely I would like as a response. This is similar to the sycophantic qualities of AI.

As we draw from sources that AI deems appropriate, we are increasingly reliant on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) sources of information that are not representative of many cultural ways of knowing and are narrowing our epistemological diversity. This also reflects a likely bias toward quantitative research, which emphasizes shared patterns and commonalities across individuals, over qualitative research, which seeks to understand subjective experience, contextual meaning, and the uniqueness of persons. However, both ways of knowing are essential for advancing knowledge.

The overuse of AI is linked to decreased creativity and critical thinking. As we rely more heavily on technology, we are losing the originality of our writing and communication. AI is shaping our behavior, and we are conforming to its expectations without even realizing it. This has vital implications for what it means to be human and how we grow and evolve individually and collectively.

The Loss of Relational Skills

When relationships become too wired through inserting technology into relationships, or when technology replaces essential parts of human relationships and community, there are social and psychological consequences. The ease and accessibility of AI make it easy to become overly reliant on it, even if one begins with good intentions about using it with greater constraint. To avoid the dangers of AI, it is vital that we not only learn to use it well but also develop the self-discipline to avoid over-usage and other problems associated with it.

We, too, must not neglect the development of important interpersonal skills and qualities, such as empathy and compassion, that we need as humans. As Kirk Schneider (2019) stated, “The more we court machines, the more machine-like we become” (p. 36). Fundamental aspects of human relationships are withering away as human attachments, community, and seeking support through close relationships are replaced with attachments to technology and pursuing emotional support through interaction with AI.

As we move in the direction of becoming the technology, we may no longer be developing, refining, and evolving our personal skills individually and collectively. Instead, we will lose the fundamental parts of our humanity, including empathy, compassion, vulnerability, critical thinking, and creativity, which are worth preserving.

Conclusion

AI has implications for the human experience and potentially even what it means to be human. It is imperative that we develop healthy ways to live with it. This is more than merely learning how to use it effectively and efficiently. It also entails recognizing the negative implications of poor usage and over-reliance on fundamental aspects of the human experience.

The way we relate as humans is rapidly evolving as technology, and AI in particular, evolves. It is essential that we preserve the fundamental parts of our humanity and not become too reliant on technology. By doing so, we can maintain our unique qualities and continue to evolve and grow as individuals and as a collective.