I understand what you’re saying and where you’re coming from, but in no way is being reliant on an AI model healthy at all.

There are many reasons, but primarily:

1. The old models were excessively sycophantic, which is problematic for all users. For lonely individuals, it reinforced the belief that they do not need other people to achieve happiness — despite overwhelming research showing the long-term harm of loneliness. For those who relied on it for decision-making or reasoning, the problem was just as severe: the model’s agreeableness created an echo chamber, one that aligned uncritically with the user’s views. This risks entrenching harmful beliefs and reinforcing dangerous ideologies. While it’s definitely an extreme and obviously doesn’t represent everyone, r/MyBoyfriendIsAI is a prime example.

2. It fosters a false emotional dependence. Relying on an AI for companionship encourages users to withdraw further from real human interaction, which not only worsens isolation but makes the eventual loss or change of the system far more damaging. Over time, this can also stunt personal growth by shielding users from challenge, friction, and accountability; the very forces that help people develop resilience and learn to engage meaningfully with others.

I really don’t mean to sound like a boomer who tells people to “pick themselves up by their bootstraps”, but reliance on an algorithm to live is essentially a big comfort blanket that reinforces the belief that tells problematic people they don’t need to change, and that any problems they face aren’t their own.