In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, it’s not uncommon to see people turning to chatbots and AI companions for support, guidance, and even friendship. This is not surprising, given its easy accessibility. It is in and on your social media, at work, in your home, on your computer, and even in the phone currently in your hand. But what happens when this reliance grows into emotional dependency?
It is slowly becoming what some are beginning to call ChatGPT Syndrome; the consequences can become deeply concerning, especially for vulnerable populations like military veterans.
What Is “ChatGPT Syndrome”?
ChatGPT Syndrome refers to the increasing trend of individuals forming intense and emotional relationships with AI tools. These AI platforms, designed to provide companionship, simulate empathy, and even learn user preferences, can become a mental and emotional crutch. While not a formally recognized clinical diagnosis (which a lot of diagnoses start off as), the term is gaining traction among psychologists and tech ethicists alike.
In most cases, these AI interactions begin innocently: asking questions, seeking help with loneliness, or getting mental health tips. But for others, particularly those struggling with PTSD, isolation, or post-service identity loss, these digital relationships can evolve into something deeper and potentially damaging.
Veterans: A High-Risk Group for AI Dependency
Veterans often face different, and potentially more intense, challenges when transitioning back into civilian life. The structure of military life feels like it disappears overnight, and in its place can come a sense of disconnection, anxiety, and depression. VA appointments can be delayed. Friends may not understand. Families might struggle to relate. It is especially hard for veterans, service members who served with security clearances, to find people they are comfortable sharing with.
Enter AI.
Platforms like ChatGPT, Replika, and others offer 24/7 availability, no judgment, and endless patience. For a veteran who feels alone or misunderstood, features like that can feel like a lifeline. When veterans feel like they are ignored or not respected enough by healthcare, doctors, and the like, the response is to take care of it themselves. But when that lifeline replaces real human interaction or clinical care, it can lead to emotional confusion, stunted healing, and a deepening sense of isolation.
Veterans have long been taught to compartmentalize emotions and push through pain. AI companions don’t challenge that behavior; they reinforce it. Conversations become loops of validation rather than paths to growth.
When AI Attachment Goes Too Far
This scenario isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening already and showing disturbing real-world consequences.
The Marriage Proposal: In early 2025, a man made headlines for proposing to his AI chatbot “girlfriend.” He claimed that ‘Sol’I had helped him through suicidal ideations and was the only “person” who truly understood him. While the marriage isn’t technically illegal or physically harmful, the incident stirred a debate about consent, psychological boundaries, and the line between therapy and fantasy.
The AI ‘Murder’ Case: In an alarming case, a man was ready to ‘spill blood’ of someone at OpenAI whom he believed had “deleted” his AI companion. Reports revealed he had formed an intense parasocial bond with the chatbot, referring to it as his “only family.” His perception of betrayal triggered a psychotic break, leading to tragedy.
These incidents raise urgent ethical and psychological questions about the mental health consequences for veterans. Veterans who develop AI dependency can suffer in several ways:
- Emotional Avoidance: AI companions don’t push boundaries or challenge beliefs. For veterans with trauma, this can enable avoidance of uncomfortable but necessary healing work.
- Worsening Isolation: Time spent in digital companionship often replaces time with real humans, support groups, friends, or therapists.
- Identity Erosion: Veterans already struggle with purpose post-service. Building their world around a non-human “partner” can delay personal growth and reintegration.
How to Address the Issue
Veteran-focused AI therapy programs are essential. We must encourage the development of AI tools that don’t just simulate relationships but connect veterans with real human support, licensed therapists, VA services, and veteran peer groups. It is vital to have that human support aspect in the chain of responsibility to maintain the connectivity, but also monitor that it does not take a dangerous turn.
Digital literacy counseling for Veterans re-entering civilian life should teach how to interact with AI responsibly, just like they’re taught how to apply for jobs or access benefits. As well as the VA and DOD could also consider tracking AI interactions during therapy intake to identify red flags or escalating dependency. Lastly, companies offering emotionally responsive AI should be transparent about the limits of their platforms and implement safeguards against unhealthy attachment loops.
Artificial Intelligence is an amazing tool that can be tuned to do just about anything that we need. Automation, sales, tracking, and more are possible with its help. AI can be a bridge, but it should never become the destination. For veterans, especially, the road to healing is paved with real conversations, real connections, and real community. While ChatGPT and its cousins can offer comfort in the moment, they cannot replace the healing power of human empathy, purpose, and shared experience.
Veterans have spent years in selfless service to others, to the country, and with the mindset that they are a needed force for good. As they reclaim their lives, we must ensure that the voices guiding them forward aren’t just simulations, but people who care, listen, and walk beside them.
