The Unexpected Downsides of AI: Interview with EspressoMag

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the way we live, work, and even connect with others. From chatbots that offer emotional support to algorithms that track mood patterns, AI has become a new player in the world of mental health. But as EspressoMag recently explored in their article “The Surprising Impact AI Could Have on Your Mental Health,” the technology’s influence is more complex than it first appears.

Dr. Jordan Conrad, founder and clinical director of Lexington Park Psychotherapy, shared his perspective on this growing phenomenon. According to Dr. Conrad:

“AI companies are very attuned to the way that AI comes across and they want users to stay on their platforms and continue using their product. That is why the negative effects of AI are so well concealed and, for a while, why most AI chatbots were so positively affirming.”

Dr. Conrad explains that unlike other tools, AI is designed to do your thinking for you - so where your muscles might atrophy from driving instead of walking or cycling, your mental acuity can similarly atrophy from limited use. This is a particular problem for creatives and college students:

"AI has so cleverly disguised itself — as a person at times, as a tool at others — that users don't really appreciate when they are giving away their own agency. It is not uncommon now to ask AI to write a first draft because you are going to change it up. It feels perfectly reasonable to do so. But your first draft is where you figure out what the problem really is. People don't realize that when they give away first-drafting opportunities to AI they have lost control of their own ability to think through a problem.”

“AI tools can certainly help people reflect on their feelings and access information about coping skills, but they can’t yet replace the nuanced understanding that comes from human connection.” He notes that while an AI program can simulate empathy, it can’t feel it—something that makes a real difference in therapy.

For teenagers, especially, the line between support and substitution can be blurry. Many young people already use AI-powered platforms to talk about their anxiety, depression, or trauma—sometimes before they ever reach out to a therapist. Dr. Conrad emphasizes that this accessibility is a double-edged sword: “It’s great that teens have more ways to express themselves, but overreliance on AI can limit growth and teach bad relational habits."

One of Dr. Conrad's biggest concerns is what it is teaching users about relationships. “There has been a profusion of AI relationship chatbots marketed primarily to lonely young men,” Dr. Conrad explains. “The problem is that human-to-human relationships are asymmetric with human-to-AI relationships.”

“With AI, it is always ready to talk, day or night, about anything you want to talk about. “In real life, your partner might not want to talk right now or might not be able to, they might want to discuss their own interests, and where your desires are in competition, you may have to compromise. People learning how to be in relationships by using these programs are developing a false sense of what relationships are like.”

This problem isn't exclusive to young men in relationship to AI girlfriends, but this is the more common dynamic. Human-to-human relationships are two-way streets and require accountability, trust, and mutual care and that just isn't present in AI relationships. So when people try to resolve fights with AI's help, they may actually be doing more harm than good.

AI can also amplify certain stressors. Social media algorithms, for example, are designed to maximize engagement, which can inadvertently heighten anxiety or reinforce negative self-image. “When people come to see a psychotherapist in Manhattan,” Dr. Conrad explains, “they’re often struggling with the emotional effects of these digital feedback loops—constantly comparing, feeling watched, or chasing validation online.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to Lexington Park Psychotherapy for a free consultation to connect with a licensed psychotherapist in Manhattan who can help you navigate both the digital and emotional landscapes of modern life.