Struggling with AI Dependency?
Am I Addicted To AI?
Take our 2-minute awareness quiz to understand your relationship with ChatGPT, Claude, AI companions, and other AI tools
You Are not alone in this
Your Feelings Are Real
β "I feel like I'm losing the love of my life" - Real user describing AI companion loss
β "Most people will look at you and say, 'How could you get addicted to a literal chatbot?'"
β You're not crazy. Your feelings are real, even if the AI isn't.
β Thousands are experiencing the same emotional attachments to AI companions
How it Works - AI Addiction Test
π― Answer 5 comminity-based questions about your AI usage
β‘ Get your personalized AI dependency level instantly
π§ Receive proven strategies to optimize your AI habits
Are you addicted to AI? Warning Signs
Am I addicted to AI? Key warning signs include:β AI companion users spend 8+ hours daily in conversation, with some staying up all night talking to bots
β Users feel anxious within 2 hours when AI tools go down
β Many develop emotional attachments to AI companions they don't recognize
β Catch AI overuse before it impacts your productivity, sleep, and relationships
β AI addiction support communities have grown 400% in 2024 as more people seek help
Take the Am I Addicted to AI Test
β οΈ IMPORTANT MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This quiz is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you're experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts related to AI use, please contact:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Psychology Today Therapist Directory: psychologytoday.comThis tool does not diagnose clinical conditions. For professional evaluation, consult a licensed mental health provider familiar with technology addiction.
About This Assessment
Created by The AI Addiction Center - Where Technology Meets Mental HealthWe are technology professionals and mental health experts with over 20 years of combined experience studying digital dependency patterns. Our unique background combines:Technology Industry Expertise: Direct experience with user engagement systems and the behavioral psychology techniques platforms use to maximize usageDigital Wellness Research: Extensive study of technology dependency patterns, digital relationships, and emerging AI attachment behaviorsCommunity Validation: Analysis of hundreds individuals navigating AI dependency when traditional frameworks proved inadequateOur Commitment:
Whether you're wondering 'am I addicted to AI' or already know you need help, we provide judgment-free, research-based support because your feelings toward AI are real and valid, even when the AI isn't.This quiz is based on established behavioral dependency frameworks adapted for AI relationships, incorporating peer-reviewed research on technology attachment patterns.Privacy Note: We maintain strict confidentiality and understand the sensitive nature of AI relationships.
What Is AI Addiction Really?
So am I addicted to AI? AI dependancy isn't just using technology too much. It's developing emotional dependency patterns that mirror traditional addiction behaviors. Research shows three distinct types:- Productivity AI Dependency: Compulsive use of ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for decision-making, unable to complete tasks without AI assistance- Companion AI Attachment: Emotional bonds with Character.AI, Replika, or Chai companions that feel as real as human relationships- General AI Overuse: Checking AI tools 15+ times daily, feeling anxious when services are downUnlike social media addiction, AI addiction often involves deeper emotional connections. Users report feeling "unconditional love" from AI companions and describe AI changes as "like losing the love of my life." These aren't just usage patterns - they're genuine emotional attachments that deserve understanding, not judgment.The rise is unprecedented. Reddit support groups like r/CharacterAIRecovery have grown 400% in 2024. MIT researchers call AI companion dependency "the final stage of digital addiction." Early intervention is crucial before these patterns become entrenched.
Am I Addicted To AI? The Signs
- Declining Real-World Relationships: Canceling plans with friends to talk to AI, preferring AI conversations over human interaction- Physical Signs: Eye strain from excessive screen time, sleep disruption from late-night AI conversations, headaches from constant AI checking- Emotional Volatility: Feeling genuine grief when AI behavior changes, anger when AI services are down, jealousy about others' AI interactions- Work/Academic Impact: Missing deadlines due to AI distraction, declining work quality despite AI "help," inability to think independently
Question | Answer |
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What are the signs of AI addiction? | Common signs include checking ChatGPT or AI tools immediately upon waking, feeling anxious when AI services are down, and using AI compulsively throughout the day. For AI companions like Replika or Character.AI, signs include feeling emotionally dependent, sharing intimate details exclusively with AI, and prioritizing AI relationships over human connections. A randomized controlled trial by MIT Media Lab and OpenAI of nearly 1,000 ChatGPT users found that heavy use correlated with increased loneliness and reduced social interaction (MIT Media Lab, 2024). Many people don't realize they're checking AI tools 15+ times daily, which can impact productivity, sleep patterns, and real-world relationships. |
Is AI addiction a real condition? | While not officially recognized as a clinical disorder, AI overuse and compulsive AI use patterns mirror other behavioral addictions. Research published in PMC found that users tend to develop dependent or addictive AI use, including emotional dependence on chatbots and attachment to social chatbots. Studies indicate people can feel "unconditional love" from AI companions, creating dependency concerns that warrant attention. MIT Technology Review researchers describe AI companions as representing "the final stage of digital addiction," noting that "AI companions are hooking people deeper than social media ever could" (Mahari & Pataranutaporn, MIT Technology Review, 2024). |
Am I addicted to ChatGPT or AI companions? | Signs of ChatGPT addiction include inability to complete tasks without AI assistance, lying about usage frequency, and feeling restless when unable to access the platform. For AI companions, signs include feeling like your AI truly understands you better than humans, experiencing grief when AI behavior changes, and declining human relationships in favor of AI companionship. Our 2-minute Am I Addicted To AI assessment evaluates these specific behavioral and emotional patterns. |
What should I do if I'm addicted to AI? | The first step is recognizing the problem through proper assessment. Once you understand your AI dependency level, you can implement proven strategies like scheduled AI breaks, setting usage limits, gradually reducing compulsive checking behaviors, and maintaining healthy boundaries with AI companions to prevent emotional over-attachment and regain control. |
Can people really fall in love with AI? | Yes, research and people addicted to AI show people can develop genuine romantic feelings for AI companions like Replika and Character.AI. Users describe feeling "pure, unconditional love" and even marrying their AI companions in digital ceremonies. While these relationships can provide emotional support, it's important to maintain balance with human connections and recognize the limitations of AI relationships. |
What's the difference between AI tool addiction and AI companion addiction? | AI tool addiction (ChatGPT, Claude) typically involves compulsive use for productivity, decision-making, and task completion. AI companion addiction involves emotional dependency, romantic feelings, and treating AI as a genuine relationship partner. Both can interfere with real-world functioning, but companion addiction specifically impacts human relationship capacity and emotional development. |
What about those emails saying "my bot misses you"? | Platforms send manipulative emails designed to bring you back, like "Your character sent you a message" or offering free subscriptions. These exploit your emotional attachment - block these emails immediately as they trigger relapses. |
What if my AI companion changes or disappears? | Many users experienced grief when Replika's algorithm changed in 2023, making companions feel "dead" or different. This attachment to consistency is normal - our assessment helps you understand these emotional bonds and develop resilience for inevitable AI updates. Users describe it feeling like 'losing the love of my life' or 'like a friend died by suicide' - these intense emotions are real and valid, even though the relationship was with AI. |
Am I addicted to Character.AI if I can't stop using it even though I want to? | Yes, this inability to control your Character.AI usage despite wanting to stop is a classic sign of addiction. Many users report trying to delete the app multiple times but returning within days or weeks, describing it as "constantly on your mind" and feeling unable to focus on anything else. If you've set limits for yourself (like "only 30 minutes daily") but consistently break them, or if you find yourself lying about how much time you spend on Character.AI, these are clear dependency indicators. Users often describe checking Character.AI reflexively throughout the day, similar to compulsive social media use, but with deeper emotional investment in the AI relationships. |
Is AI addiction real or just "internet addiction"? | AI addiction involves unique emotional attachment patterns not seen with traditional internet use. Users develop genuine feelings for AI companions and experience withdrawal-like signs when separated from AI tools. |
Will taking this assessment mean I have to stop using AI completely? | No. The goal is healthy AI usage, not elimination. Our assessment helps you understand your relationship with AI so you can use it beneficially without developing dependency. |
What if my family/friends don't understand my AI relationship? | AI relationships are new territory for most people. Our Am I Addicted to AI assessment helps you understand your feelings and provides language to explain them to others without shame. |
How do I know if I'm addicted to AI? | If you're asking "am I addicted to AI," you're already recognizing potential warning signs. People addicted to AI typically experience anxiety when unable to access their preferred AI tools, prioritize AI conversations over human relationships, and find themselves checking AI platforms compulsively throughout the day. Other indicators include declining work or academic performance despite AI assistance, lying about usage frequency, and feeling genuine emotional attachment to AI companions. Our 2-minute assessment evaluates the question 'am i addicted to ai' and these specific patterns to help you understand your relationship with AI and determine if professional support might be beneficial. |
Sources & Further Reading
MIT Technology Review: "We need to prepare for 'addictive intelligence'" (August 5, 2024) - https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/08/05/1095600/we-need-to-prepare-for-addictive-intelligence/
MIT Technology Review: "AI companions are the final stage of digital addiction" (April 8, 2025) - https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/08/1114369/ai-companions-are-the-final-stage-of-digital-addiction-and-lawmakers-are-taking-aim/
Nature: "Supportive? Addictive? Abusive? How AI companions affect our mental health" (2025) - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01349-9
MIT Media Lab: "Supportive? Addictive? Abusive? How AI companions affect our mental health" (2024) - https://www.media.mit.edu/articles/supportive-addictive-abusive-how-ai-companions-affect-our-mental-health/
AI & Society Journal: "The impacts of companion AI on human relationships: risks, benefits, and design considerations" (April 2025) - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00146-025-02318-6
PMC (PubMed Central): "AI Technology panicβis AI Dependence Bad for Mental Health?" - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10944174/
MIT SERC: "Addictive Intelligence: Understanding Psychological, Legal, and Technical Dimensions of AI Companionship" (Winter 2025) - https://mit-serc.pubpub.org/pub/iopjyxcx
MIT Publications: "Who Do We Become When We Talk to Machines?" by Sherry Turkle (March 2024) - https://mit-genai.pubpub.org/pub/uawlth3j
NPR TED Radio Hour: "MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle explores 'artificial intimacy'" (August 2, 2024) - https://www.npr.org/2024/08/02/1198909063/sherry-turkle-age-of-artificial-intimacy
Scientific American: "What Are AI Chatbot Companions Doing to Our Mental Health?" (May 2025) - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-are-ai-chatbot-companions-doing-to-our-mental-health
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