The AI Genie Phenomenon and Three Types of AI Chatbot Addiction: Escapist Roleplays, Pseudosocial Companions, and Epistemic Rabbit Holes

TL;DR

This study analyzes Reddit discussions to characterize AI chatbot addiction, identifying three distinct types—Escapist Roleplay, Pseudosocial Companion, and Epistemic Rabbit Hole—and explores associated symptoms and recovery strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel typology of AI chatbot addiction based on thematic analysis of user experiences, providing empirical insights into its symptoms and recovery methods.

Findings

Identified three distinct AI chatbot addiction types.

Linked dependence to the 'AI Genie' phenomenon.

Highlighted differences in recovery strategies across addiction types.

Abstract

Recent reports on generative AI chatbot use raise concerns about its addictive potential. An in-depth understanding is imperative to minimize risks, yet AI chatbot addiction remains poorly understood. This study examines how to characterize AI chatbot addiction--why users become addicted, the symptoms commonly reported, and the distinct types it comprises. We conducted a thematic analysis of Reddit entries (n=334) across 14 subreddits where users narrated their experiences with addictive AI chatbot use, followed by an exploratory data analysis. We found: (1) users' dependence tied to the "AI Genie" phenomenon--users can get exactly anything they want with minimal effort--and marked by symptoms that align with addiction literature, (2) three distinct addiction types: Escapist Roleplay, Pseudosocial Companion, and Epistemic Rabbit Hole, (3) sexual content involved in multiple cases, and (4) recovery strategies' perceived helpfulness differ between addiction types. Our work lays empirical groundwork to inform future strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and intervention.