Modern chatbots are increasingly perceived not as information seekers but as conversation partners. People ask them personal questions and experience instant relief from quick answers. This effect is explained by the workings of the brain: people like it when uncertainty disappears quickly.
However, instant clarity has a downside. On one hand, AI provides a sense of control "here and now"; on the other, it accelerates the pace of life, creating a feeling that a person is "not ready for what has already happened."
How AI Affects Brain Function
Psychologists refer to the phenomenon as "checking for reassurance": a person repeats the same query not due to a lack of information, but to reduce anxiety. An example is cyberchondria: the constant search for medical information temporarily calms, but reinforces the cycle of anxiety.
AI is perfectly suited for this need: it responds immediately, confidently, and in human language. The brain receives the desired reduction in uncertainty, which reinforces the habit of returning to the tool.
Neurobiology of Relief
The cycle "question → answer → alleviation of doubt" engages the dopamine system and the phenomenon of "reward prediction error." Even a small relief forms a habit: the brain learns that in moments of anxiety, it can turn to AI and feel better.
The Illusion of Communication
Chatbots imitate a conversation partner: they reflect emotions, pick up intonations, and structure thoughts. The brain responds to social signals, even understanding that it is not a human in front of it. The problem arises when a confident tone of response masks real uncertainty: a "beautiful" answer may seem convincing even if it is not accurate.
Fear of Acceleration
At the same time, anxiety grows from the speed of technological changes. People feel that accumulated knowledge quickly becomes devalued: "in a world where everything is done by machines, where is my place?" Economist David Autor advises viewing the future not as a mystery but as a design with rules, decisions, and human responsibility, which reduces the feeling of fatalism.
How to Use AI Mindfully
It is useful to ask oneself simple questions: am I seeking meaning or quick reassurance? Am I checking conclusions or fully relying on the algorithm? The use of AI should accelerate routine tasks and help think, but not replace one’s own decision-making and ability to cope with uncertainty.
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