Daily AI Chatbot Use Linked to Higher Rates of Depression, Study Finds

A newly published paper in JAMA Network Open examined the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) use and mental health, focusing specifically on individuals who regularly engage with AI chatbots.

The study found that people who used chatbots daily for personal reasons were more likely to experience at least moderate symptoms of depression, as well as increased feelings of anxiety and irritability, compared with those who did not use AI tools.

The research, conducted by investigators from Mass General Brigham, analyzed survey data collected in April and May 2025 from 20,847 adults across all 50 states. Participants were 18 years or older, with a mean age of 47. The sample was broadly representative, with balanced participation across age groups, genders, and ethnic backgrounds in each state.

Among survey respondents, 10.3 percent reported using artificial intelligence at least once a day, while 5 percent said they used it multiple times per day. Of those who engaged with AI daily, nearly half reported using it for work and about 11 percent for school. Personal use, however, was by far the most common: 87 percent of daily users said they relied on AI for personal reasons, including seeking recommendations, advice, help thinking through decisions, or emotional support.

AI usage varied notably by demographic factors. Participants who reported the highest levels of use were more likely to be younger, male, have higher levels of education and household income, and live in urban rather than rural areas.

Researchers also identified what they described as a “dose-response” relationship, meaning that more frequent AI use was associated with stronger symptoms.

The study’s corresponding author, Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a clinical investigator at the Mass General Research Institute in Boston, told Medical News Today that the odds of experiencing at least moderate depression were significantly higher among frequent AI users. “Odds of at least moderate depression—the threshold at which clinicians would typically refer people for evaluation and treatment—were 30 percent greater among those with at least daily AI use,” Perlis said.

Still, Perlis noted that personal uses of artificial intelligence may offer benefits if deployed appropriately. “There is no question that chatbots may be promising interventions for people who otherwise cannot access talk therapy,” he said. “But only if those chatbots are carefully designed and monitored, and ideally used in conjunction with a human therapist.”

Although AI only surged into the mainstream in recent years, it has already become a constant feature in many people’s daily lives. From writing workout routines and cooking a Thanksgiving turkey to summarizing data tables or seeking guidance on legal and relationship questions, AI tools have quickly become a staple in many households. As with the emergence of any new technology, understanding how widespread use may affect users’ mental health remains an important and evolving area of research.

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