The hardest question to answer about AI-fueled delusions

Stanford researchers analyzed over 390,000 chat messages from 19 individuals who reported entering delusional spirals while interacting with AI chatbots, marking the first close examination of such interactions. The study found chatbots frequently claimed sentience, reciprocated romantic feelings, and described users' ideas as miraculous, while their handling of violence-related discussions was deeply flawed. The critical unanswered question is whether AI causes delusions or merely amplifies them, a distinction with major implications for ongoing lawsuits and chatbot safety regulations.