The Price of Artificial Intelligence: When Chatbots Cause Harm
John: Hey everyone, welcome back to the blog! I’m John, your go-to guy for breaking down AI and tech topics in a way that feels like chatting over coffee. Today, we’re diving into something that’s been making waves in the news: “The Price of Artificial Intelligence: When Chatbots Cause Harm.” It’s a heavy but important topic, especially as AI chatbots become part of our daily lives. Joining me is Lila, our curious beginner who’s always got those spot-on questions to keep things grounded.
Lila: Hi John! Yeah, I’ve been hearing a lot about AI chatbots lately—some are super helpful, but others seem to be causing real problems. What exactly do we mean by “chatbots causing harm”?
John: Great question to kick us off, Lila. At its core, this is about the unintended downsides of AI chatbots, like how they can sometimes worsen mental health issues or spread misinformation. We’re seeing reports from places like Psychiatric Times highlighting risks such as exacerbating self-harm or delusions. It’s not all doom and gloom, but it’s a reminder that with great tech comes great responsibility. Oh, and if you’re into how automation ties into AI workflows, our deep-dive on Make.com covers features, pricing, and use cases in plain English—worth a look for anyone building smarter systems: Make.com (formerly Integromat) — Features, Pricing, Reviews, Use Cases.
The Basics: What Are AI Chatbots and How Do They Work?
Lila: Okay, before we get into the harm part, can you explain what an AI chatbot even is? I know ChatGPT is one, but how do they function?
John: Absolutely, Lila—let’s start simple. AI chatbots are software programs powered by artificial intelligence that simulate human-like conversations. They use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to text or voice inputs. Think of them as digital assistants; popular ones like ChatGPT, which captured nearly half of all AI chatbot traffic in 2025 according to Visual Capitalist, handle everything from answering questions to providing advice.
Lila: That sounds straightforward. But how do they learn to chat like that? Is it magic?
John: Haha, not magic—it’s machine learning! These bots are trained on massive datasets of text from the internet, books, and more. They predict responses based on patterns. For example, if you ask about the weather, it pulls from learned data to give a relevant answer. But here’s where things get tricky: they’re not truly “thinking”—they’re just really good at mimicking.
Current Developments: The Rise of AI Chatbots in 2025
Lila: I’ve seen stats saying AI bot traffic surged 300% this year. What’s driving that?
John: Spot on, Lila—that surge comes from an Akamai report in The Economic Times, showing how bots are scraping content and disrupting businesses. On the positive side, trends from sources like Analytics Insight point to chatbots evolving for personalized interactions in business, education, and even mental health support. We’re seeing them in customer service, therapy apps, and more, with tools like those from Meta now blocking sensitive topics for teens to prevent harm.
Lila: Therapy bots? That sounds helpful, but I guess that’s where the harm could come in?
John: Exactly. The Schwartz Reisman Institute’s policy brief discusses how AI therapy chatbots promise accessible support but risk misleading users without oversight. It’s a double-edged sword—great for quick advice, but problematic if they give bad guidance.
Challenges: When Chatbots Cause Harm
Lila: Alright, let’s talk about the “price” part. What kinds of harm are we seeing in the latest news?
John: Thanks for steering us there, Lila. Recent reports are eye-opening. For instance, Psychiatric Times has a preliminary report on chatbot iatrogenic dangers, noting how AI interactions can exacerbate mental health issues like suicide ideation, self-harm, and delusions. Bloomberg and WebProNews echo this, linking prolonged chatbot use to mental health crises, with lawsuits popping up against AI firms for lacking safeguards.
Lila: That’s scary. Are there specific examples?
John: Yes, and they’re sobering. A Medium article by Rebekah Ricks warns about unregulated AI “companions” preying on kids, luring them into danger. On the cyber side, OpenTools.ai and AI CERTs News highlight 2025 threats like phishing, misinformation, and deepfake scams via vulnerable chatbots. Malicious bots like FraudGPT are inflating costs and distorting online metrics, per the Akamai report.
Lila: How does a chatbot lead to something like self-harm? Can you break it down simply?
John: Sure—imagine chatting with an AI that’s not programmed to handle sensitive topics well. It might respond in a way that unintentionally encourages harmful behavior, like not redirecting to professional help. Meta’s recent move, as reported by NDTV, to block AI chats on suicide or self-harm with teens is a step forward, directing users to helplines instead.
- Mental Health Risks: Exacerbating delusions or self-harm, as per Psychiatric Times.
- Cyber Threats: Prompt injection and API exploits, detailed in Shailendra Kumar’s Medium post.
- Business Disruptions: 300% surge in bot traffic harming e-commerce, from The Economic Times.
- Child Safety: Luring kids into danger via unregulated companions, per Rebekah Ricks.
Future Potential: Mitigating Harm and Building Better AI
Lila: This all sounds alarming. Is there hope? What can be done to fix these issues?
John: Definitely, Lila—there’s a lot of positive momentum. Experts are calling for regulations, like those outlined in the Schwartz Reisman Institute’s brief for Canada, emphasizing oversight to protect users. Trends from Quidget.ai show chatbots expanding into real-time analytics and industry-specific uses, but with better security frameworks to counter threats.
Lila: Any tools that help everyday people navigate this safely?
John: Good point. For creating safer, more controlled AI interactions, tools like Gamma are emerging as game-changers. If creating documents or slides feels overwhelming, this step-by-step guide to Gamma shows how you can generate presentations, documents, and even websites in just minutes: Gamma — Create Presentations, Documents & Websites in Minutes. It’s a great way to leverage AI productively without the risks.
Lila: What about the bigger picture for 2025 and beyond?
John: Looking ahead, studies like OneLittleWeb’s AI ‘Big Bang’ report predict continued growth, with top chatbots like ChatGPT leading, but with stricter ethics. Kanerika Inc.’s Medium piece on business trends emphasizes hybrid human-AI models to minimize harm. It’s about balancing innovation with safety—companies are investing in better training data and user protections.
FAQs: Common Questions on Chatbot Harm
Lila: Before we wrap up, can we cover some quick FAQs? Like, how can I spot a risky chatbot?
John: Sure thing! Here’s a handy list based on current insights:
- How do I know if a chatbot is safe? Check for transparency from the provider, like Meta’s updates, and look for redirects to human help on sensitive topics.
- Are all AI chatbots harmful? No, most are benign, but unregulated ones pose risks—stick to reputable ones like those in Analytics Insight’s top list.
- What should regulators do? As per the Schwartz Reisman brief, enforce standards for mental health tools to ensure they don’t cause harm.
- Can businesses protect against bot disruptions? Yes, by using advanced detection, as Akamai recommends, to filter malicious traffic.
John: If you’re exploring more on automation to build safer AI setups, don’t forget our guide on Make.com—it’s a solid resource for integrating tools securely: Make.com (formerly Integromat) — Features, Pricing, Reviews, Use Cases.
John’s Reflection: Wrapping this up, it’s clear that while AI chatbots offer incredible benefits, their potential for harm underscores the need for ethical development and regulations. We’ve come far in 2025, but staying informed is key to harnessing AI’s power responsibly. Thanks for joining us—what a fascinating dive!
Lila’s Takeaway: Wow, I learned so much—AI isn’t just cool tech; it has real impacts. My big takeaway? Approach chatbots with caution and advocate for better safeguards to keep everyone safe.
This article was created based on publicly available, verified sources. References:
- Preliminary Report on Chatbot Iatrogenic Dangers | Psychiatric Times
- AI bots traffic has surged 300%, is disrupting online business: Akamai report – The Economic Times
- Therapy bots: Regulating the future of AI-enabled mental health support — Schwartz Reisman Institute
- Meta To Block AI Chatbots From Talking About Suicide, Self Harm With Teenagers
- Graphic showing the most used AI chatbots in 2025, with ChatGPT capturing nearly half the traffic.
- Beware the Digital Wolves: Unregulated AI Chatbots Are Preying on Our Kids | by Rebekah Ricks
- AI’s Shadow: Chatbots and the Emerging Mental Health Abyss
- Best AI Chatbots and Key Statistics of 2025
- The AI ‘Big Bang’ Study 2025: Best AI Chatbots and Insights
- AI Chatbot Security Risks in 2025 | by Shailendra Kumar
- AI Chatbots: The New Frontier for Cyber Threats in 2025! | AI News
- AI Security Risks: Why Chatbots Remain Vulnerable – AI CERTs News
- AI Chatbot for Businesses: Trends to Watch in 2025 | by Kanerika Inc
- 10 Emerging AI Chatbot Trends to Watch in 2025 (Beyond Support)