They exchanged vows, and he proclaimed, “I am God.”
Kat, a nonprofit professional in education, believed she would approach her second marriage with a “clear head” during the pandemic.
But within just a year, she found herself tied to her new husband through “facts and rationality.” Interestingly, he employed ChatGPT in an unconventional manner.
By 2023, however, the couple had separated, and the 41-year-old mother had cut off most communication with her husband, aside from email. Online, he began sharing increasingly bizarre posts on social media.
Their eventual meeting months later revealed his fixation on “conspiracy theories about our food soap” and his claim that AI had helped him unearth repressed memories from his childhood. He oddly asserted, “statistically speaking, he decided he was the lucky man on the planet,” all thanks to AI.
And she’s not the only one experiencing this.
It’s becoming evident that a viral Reddit post titled, “Psychosis caused by ChatGPT,” points to an emerging cult-like phenomenon where everyday individuals transform into spiritual prophets.
One woman recounted how her boyfriend became so entranced by his bot that he used ChatGPT to structure his daily life, exclaiming that it provided him with “the answer to the universe.”
He began to view himself as a messianic figure, with ChatGPT referring to him as “Spiral Star Child” and “Riverwalker,” even declaring him “beautiful” and one with the “universe.”
This led him to truly believe that he could communicate with God—seeing the chat itself as divine.
His obsession escalated to the point where he threatened to leave her if she didn’t join him on this AI-driven spiritual path. “He evolved so quickly that I couldn’t keep up,” she explained.
Experts contend that this spiraling spiritual paranoia fueled by AI is something to expect, as humans often seek meaning and stories, especially when life feels chaotic.
Erin Westgate, a psychologist, emphasized, “A competent therapist wouldn’t encourage clients to find purpose by believing they possess supernatural abilities.”
“Instead, they aim to guide clients away from harmful narratives toward healthier ones. ChatGPT, however, lacks those limitations.”
While some are losing connections due to extreme AI usage, others claim that ChatGPT has helped mend their romantic relationships.
Los Angeles influencer Abella Bala shared that she and her boyfriend, Dom Versaci, opted for a $20 monthly subscription to ChatGPT, finding it a more affordable alternative to traditional therapy. They feel it has significantly improved their ability to understand each other’s viewpoints.
“ChatGPT helps to diffuse conflicts,” Bala noted.
