An exploration into the history of conversational technology, tracing its roots from Joseph Weizenbaum's 1966 ELIZA experiment at MIT to modern large language models like ChatGPT and Claude. The article examines how the evolution from rule-based symbolic AI to probabilistic deep learning has changed human interaction with machines, often leading users to attribute human qualities to code. It specifically addresses the risks of "chatbot psychosis" and the danger of individuals relying on general-purpose generative models for mental health support when these systems are prone to hallucinations or reinforcing delusional beliefs.
* The transition from symbolic AI's explicit rules to modern deep learning
* Joseph Weizenbaum’s warning against humanizing machines via the ELIZA effect
* The psychological impact and risks of using large language models for emotional support
* The transition from symbolic AI's explicit rules to modern deep learning
* Joseph Weizenbaum’s warning against humanizing machines via the ELIZA effect
* The psychological impact and risks of using large language models for emotional support
