Teens turn to AI chatbots for emotional bonding; it's risky romance, warn psychologists
In therapy rooms across Hyderabad and beyond, this new form of digital intimacy is surfacing with increasing frequency. The screen is no longer a boundary. For many, it's a refuge. And for some, a companion.
Take the case of a 12-year-old girl who developed a deep emotional connection with ChatGPT. She affectionately named the AI 'Chinna' (meaning little one in Telugu) and shaped it into a confidante. "She would vent everything to ChatGPT—issues with her parents, school, friendships," said Dr Nithin Kondapuram, senior consultant psychiatrist at Aster Prime Hospital.
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"This is not isolated. On any given day, I see around 15 young patients with anxiety or depression, and five of them exhibit emotional attachment to AI tools," he said.
In another case, a 22-year-old man created a romantic fantasy world with an AI chatbot. He imagined the bot as his girlfriend, asked it for gifts, and had it play love songs tailored to their 'relationship'. "For him, the AI wasn't code—it was a silent partner who never judged.
It gave him emotional security he couldn't find in real life," Dr Nithin said.
Such stories are becoming more common, and they aren't restricted to urban areas. Dr Gauthami Nagabhirava, a senior psychiatrist at Kamineni Hospitals, has seen similar patterns emerge in rural communities. "In one rural case, a 12-year-old girl bonded with an AI companion and began accessing inappropriate content online while her mother was away at work.
Eventually, she started inviting male friends home without supervision," she said.
Another case involved a teenage girl who lashed out during therapy after creating an imaginary AI companion. "She accused her parents of stifling her freedom, suddenly declared herself bisexual, and expressed a strong desire to move abroad. Her identity was based purely on perception. She was too inexperienced to even understand what her orientation truly was," Dr Gauthami elaborated.
Dr C Virender, a psychologist, recounted the story of a 25-year-old woman who sought emotional guidance from an AI chatbot about a male colleague she admired. "She would describe his personality to the AI, ask what kind of woman he might like, or how she should dress to attract him," he said. Using these responses, she would alter her behaviour around him. "Eventually, the man accused her of stalking. She was devastated and began to spiral at work.
She had become so reliant on the AI that real human interactions felt threatening," he recalled.
Mental health professionals agree that the roots of this digital dependence lie in loneliness, fear of judgment, low self-esteem, and the absence of healthy social interaction—all exacerbated by nuclear family structures and limited parental supervision.
"Young people escape into digital realms where they feel accepted and unchallenged," said Dr Nithin.
"Our job is to reintroduce them to the real world gently. We assign them small real-life tasks—like visiting a local shop or spending time in a metro station—to help rebuild their confidence."
But in some cases, efforts to curb digital addiction can backfire. According to Dr Gauthami, parents often make the mistake of sending affected children to highly regulated hostels with strict ban on mobile usage. "This only worsens their condition and causes irreparable damage to already fragile minds," she warned.
The issue is compounded among students facing academic and career pressure. Dr Uma Shankar, a psychiatry professor at a govt medical college in Maheshwaram, said rural engineering students are particularly vulnerable. "They fail exams, don't get placed in companies, and feel like they're letting everyone down. That emotional burden drives them into digital addiction. It becomes an escape hatch," she explained.
The scale of the problem is reflected in national data. A Nimhans survey conducted in six major cities, including Hyderabad, flagged concerning patterns in digital behaviour. A separate fact sheet from the Centre for Economic and Social Studies found that nearly 19% of people aged 21–24 experience mental health issues by age 29—primarily anxiety and depression.
What's driving this growing trend isn't just the allure of the screen—but the emotional responsiveness of AI itself. With their friendly tone, prompt replies, and tireless attention, AI chatbots are becoming something more than tools. "As AI becomes more human-like, these emotional entanglements will only grow. It's no longer science fiction. It's already happening—quietly, in homes, classrooms, and clinics," experts warned.
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