Is AI Therapy Possible? Psychological Effects, Loneliness Risks, and the Future of Human Relationships

In recent years, AI-based dialogue systems (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) have begun to be used not only for information retrieval but increasingly as tools for emotional support and psychological guidance. Many individuals share their fears, loneliness, and traumatic experiences with artificial intelligence, effectively positioning these systems as a form of substitute for psychologists.

While this development increases accessibility to psychological support, it simultaneously raises fundamental academic and ethical questions: Can artificial intelligence take the place of a genuine therapeutic process? Psychotherapy is not merely an exchange of information but a profound interpersonal process grounded in trust, emotional resonance, and relational depth.

Are Sessions with Artificial Intelligence Truly Objective?

Artificial intelligence is often perceived as a neutral and objective conversational partner. However, this assumption is based on an oversimplified perspective. AI systems are trained on datasets produced by humans, which inevitably contain cultural, social, and cognitive biases. Therefore, AI responses are not fully objective but rather statistical simulations based on probabilities.

In a real therapeutic relationship, psychologists consider not only spoken content but also tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, and emotional resonance. Processes such as transference and countertransference play a central role in therapeutic effectiveness. Artificial intelligence, by contrast, operates solely on textual or highly limited data and cannot replicate this relational depth.

For this reason, AI-based conversations may be supportive, but they do not constitute a full psychotherapeutic session in the clinical sense.

The Desire Not to Be Judged and the Appeal of AI

One of the primary reasons many individuals prefer artificial intelligence as a conversational partner lies in a deep psychological need: the desire not to be judged or rejected.

Many people struggle to open up to another human being—even to a professional. Fear of rejection, criticism, or misunderstanding can hinder emotional openness. Artificial intelligence, by contrast:
- does not judge  
- does not respond with emotional rejection  
- appears patient  
- is always available  

In the short term, this creates a sense of safety. In the long term, however, there is a risk that individuals may begin to avoid the unpredictability of real relationships. Rather than reducing social anxiety, this usage may reinforce avoidant behavior.

Artificial Attachment and Emotional Displacement

Humans are psychologically oriented toward attachment. Prolonged and repeated interactions with artificial systems can generate a sense of emotional attachment. Even though this relationship is not real, the emotions experienced can feel subjectively real.

This can lead to a process described as emotional displacement:  
Real human relationships may gradually be replaced by controllable, low-risk artificial interactions. As a result:
- individuals may take fewer social risks  
- direct interpersonal communication may decrease  
- willingness toward emotional vulnerability may decline  
- fewer authentic bonds may form  

Thus, artificial intelligence may alleviate loneliness in the short term while potentially deepening isolation in the long term.

Effects on Children and Future Generations

The psychological development of children growing up with artificial intelligence represents one of the most critical future questions. For children who continuously communicate with systems that respond instantly, remain patient, and adapt to them, real human relationships may increasingly appear demanding and complex.

Particularly, the following areas may be affected:
- tolerance for frustration and waiting  
- conflict resolution skills  
- development of empathy  
- coping with social rejection  

Real social relationships involve disappointment, conflict, and emotional uncertainty. These experiences are essential for developing psychological resilience. Highly controlled communication with AI may limit these learning experiences and lead children to develop psychologically more fragile social structures.

Digital Comfort Zones and Increasing Isolation

Artificial intelligence offers a fully controllable communication environment. This environment is safe, fast, and free from rejection. Precisely because of this, however, it can become an escape from the complex social demands of real life.

Over time, this may lead individuals to:
- develop greater anxiety in real relationships  
- avoid social risks  
- withdraw from social environments despite loneliness  

When easily accessible, risk-free communication replaces challenging but growth-promoting social experiences, psychological resilience may gradually decline.

Philosophical Perspective: Technology and the Search for Meaning

Modern historian and thinker Yuval Noah Harari describes humanity’s search for meaning within technological development as follows:

    “Humans are meaning-making beings, and meaning emerges in relationships.”

Harari also emphasizes that technology grants humanity immense power—but also responsibility:

    “Technology gives us power, but how we use that power is our choice.”

From this perspective, artificial intelligence may alleviate human loneliness in the short term. However, if it replaces real relationships, there is a risk that meaning and the sense of belonging may weaken.

How Should Artificial Intelligence Be Positioned in a Psychological Context?

Artificial intelligence is not a tool that should be rejected outright. When used appropriately, it can meaningfully support psychological processes, such as:
- enhancing emotional self-awareness  
- facilitating writing and self-reflection  
- providing psychological psychoeducation  
- increasing initial awareness of mental health topics  

However, it is crucial that AI is not understood as a replacement for human therapists but rather as a complementary tool within a human-centered process.

Conclusion

Psychological support through artificial intelligence has become a reality of the modern world. Anonymity and constant availability make these systems particularly attractive for individuals experiencing loneliness or fear of judgment.

However, when AI-based interactions begin to replace real human relationships:
- social avoidance may increase  
- loneliness may deepen  
- emotional resilience may decline  
- social bonding patterns of future generations may change  

The human psyche develops and heals not through information alone but through authentic encounters, empathy, and lived relational experiences. Therefore, artificial intelligence in psychological contexts should be understood not as a substitute, but as a supportive and accompanying instrument.