Spanish
Valencia (Spain), June 11 (EFE).- A study conducted by an international research team disproves the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) can generate an addiction similar to drugs or gambling, stating that "there is no solid scientific evidence to support the existence of an addiction to ChatGPT or other AI chatbots."
Researchers Víctor Ciudad-Fernández, from the Spanish Universitat de Valencia (UV), Cora von Hammerstein (Paris Cité University) and Joël Billieux (Université de Lausanne) have analyzed studies that attempt to measure this phenomenon and "have discovered a worrying pattern": the scales used to assess the supposed addiction to ChatGPT are the same as those used to assess addictions to substances such as alcoholism or cocaine dependence, the UV reported this Wednesday.
"Criteria such as 'tolerance' or 'withdrawal syndrome' are being used to assess whether someone uses a chatbot too much, which is like diagnosing addiction to dancing with the same criteria as heroin," said Víctor Ciudad, a member of the I-PSI-TEC research group at the University of Valencia.
According to research, studies that have attempted to demonstrate the existence of this 'addiction' have not shown evidence of clinically significant harm, such as severe functional impairment or significant negative consequences in the users' lives.
Instead, researchers suggest that the frequent use of ChatGPT "is usually more related to curiosity, learning, or even coping strategies."
The authors warned that prematurely labeling the use of ChatGPT as an addiction "can have serious consequences," such as the stigmatization of users, the creation of unnecessary treatments, and the promotion of unfounded regulations.
“It's not about addiction, but about how we use technology. This study invites a change of perspective: instead of pathologizing the use of artificial intelligence tools, it is more important to analyze when and why their use becomes problematic,” said the researchers, who stated that "the key lies in a conscious and regulated use, avoiding falling into alarmist discourses without scientific basis".
The study has been published in the scientific journal Addictive Behaviors, and has been carried out "in response to recent media alarmism that pointed in this direction".
