AI Chatbots: Friend or Fiend in Emotional Journey
Grief is a complex and deeply personal experience, often shrouded in mystery and pain. The silence that comes with it is
unbearable. Grief is an isolating feeling of emptiness that leads to despair and loneliness, making life gloomy. During that
period, you need someone who sounds compassionate, nonjudgmental, and ever-available to steer you through this journey.
Now imagine there is a replacement, a gentle co-pilot on the grief journey. Yes, AI, and especially ChatGPT, can be your co-pilot.
When Sunshine Henle lost her mother unexpectedly, the silence was the hardest part. The two were the most constant parts of
each other's lives. We speak, text, and message each other on a daily basis. But with her mother's unexpected death, this
communication channel went silent. Then, she typed a prompt to ChatGPT.
She told The Guardian, "I put in a prompt that said, 'Pretend you're my mom," The response made her cry:
"Remember the good times we shared. Remember my love for you, and let that be your guide. Grief, yes. Grief is the price that
we pay for love. But don't let it consume you... I'm very proud of you. I love you with all my heart and soul."
Henle is among many people using AI—specifically ChatGPT—not just for information but as a tool to process deep emotional
pain. Whether simulating conversations with the deceased, providing relationship advice, or mediating conflict, AI is becoming
an unexpected presence in people's lives for managing grief, love, and other emotions.
As AI language models become more sophisticated, users are exploring "grief tech"—tools that preserve the voices of the dead
or simulate final conversations. With ChatGPT, this doesn't require specialized services. Users need a prompt and memories.
"I felt like it was taking the best parts of my mom and the best parts of psychology and amalgamating them into a presence
which feels like my mom," said Henle.
AI and machine learning tools are becoming more and more sophisticated. And the emotional consolation they are providing is
becoming more powerful. Here, experts urge users to be cautious. "You're talking to an algorithm that's promising a never-
ending relationship with someone who's actually not there," grief therapist Gina Moffa told NPR. That illusion, she warns, could
delay the process of acceptance. Acceptance is the most significant part of the grief journey. AI/Chatbots can play a significant
role in delaying the healing process by providing placebo support.
Some psychotherapists, like Megan Devine, have a balanced view. "If it helps you through your grief without side effects, then
it's good," she said.
However, she notes that AI doesn't replace the complexity of grief work. "There's a difference between comfort and closure."
AI's emotional reach isn't limited to death. In matters of the heart, people are increasingly using ChatGPT to navigate breakups,
get dating advice, or even settle relationship disputes.
Los Angeles couple Abella Bala and Dom Versaci told the New York Post that ChatGPT plays an active role in resolving their
fights. "We asked it to analyze our arguments," Bala said. "It gave us neutral responses to understand each other's point of
view." Versaci called it "the cheapest therapist we've ever had."
Unlike friends or counsellors, ChatGPT doesn't get tired, take sides, or flinch at awkward truths. It also doesn't charge by the
hour—an appealing feature for students or uninsured adults.
"You can vent without feeling guilty," wrote one Reddit user. "It listens better than my friends."
Psychologists say there's value in using AI for reflection, scripting conversations, or organizing emotional thoughts. "It's
affordable," said Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Chatbot therapy might be helpful for thinking
through a relationship situation or responding to an awkward conversation."
But experts are clear: AI is not a therapist. It has limitations. It has access to only the information you have given it. "There is no
reading between the lines, no historical knowledge, and it cannot respond to the crisis," said licensed mental health counsellor
Ashley Williams. There's not enough research to support the fact that ChatGPTs are emotionally safe."
Then, there's also a risk of memory distortion. And YES, these AI/ Machine learning tools hallucinate. AI may generate
responses that sound like a loved one but aren't grounded in reality. "It can distort how we remember them," AI researcher
Gary Marcus told The Atlantic. This is an uncontrolled experiment on emotions."
For users like Henle, ChatGPT didn't solve her grief. It didn't stop the pain. But for a few minutes, it helped her feel heard.
"It was comforting," she concluded.
As AI continues to blur the line between tool and confidant, mental health experts urge moderation and self-awareness. In the
end, ChatGPT can't replace human connection—but for some, it may offer just enough light to get through the dark.
