As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly advances, there is growing concern about its impact on people’s mental health and understanding of the world. While research has been done on how AI use in workplaces affects people mentally, there is little understanding of how living amongst so much AI-generated content and systems will affect our sense of reality.
One concern is that AI will allow the production of more disinformation, including fake images, deepfakes, and fake news. This could affect people’s sense of trust, as they navigate social media with increasing skepticism. Additionally, AI can allow individuals to imitate loved ones, further eroding trust in what was once unquestionable, and potentially affecting our understanding of identity.
AI could also threaten our personal identities if we are falsely represented in images or videos, leading to issues with reputation and personal security. Additionally, as more jobs become automated, and people become reliant on AI, it may affect how individuals see themselves and their place in the world.
Larry Rosen, a professor emeritus of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, worries that AI will make people overly reliant on technology, leading to increased stress and anxiety. He fears that people may automate every aspect of their lives, negatively affecting their cognitive abilities and their capacity to see things clearly.
Michael Graziano, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University, warns that AI could create a post-truth world, in which false narratives are more easily believed, and truths are harder to come by. Graziano argues that AI’s potential for deceiving people could be disruptive in many ways.
As AI continues to advance, we need to grapple with its implications and ensure that we are mentally ready for an AI-saturated world. We must also be prepared to address the potential ethical and social impacts of this technology to ensure that it is used for good rather than as a tool for harm.
