AI dependence mirrors addiction, warns psychiatrist, sparking debate on hidden costs

Jonathan Avery, vice chair for addiction psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, reflects on his podcast about addiction and the mixed feedback he receives.

In a recent episode he interviewed NYU neuroscientist Tim Requarth to explore how AI might become a participant in thinking and what hidden costs could arise from relying on it to ease mental effort.

Listeners reacted strongly, some calling the comparison of AI reliance to addiction alarmist, while others argued the technology is too valuable to question.

Avery notes that the debate itself, rather than a clear winner, highlighted how familiar the conversation about AI dependence has become, echoing patterns seen in substance dependence.