Death, Sex & Money

AI Confessions: A Chatbot Ended My Marriage

Your stories about how AI is impacting your mental health, decision-making, and relationships.

Episode Notes

Soon after his wife started experimenting with ChatGPT last summer, Rob* says demeanor began to change. He says she started using mystical speech, running all communication through AI, and filed for divorce. Now, Rob is left to wonder how much he’s to blame for the end of their marriage and how much can be explained by “AI-induced psychosis.”

Also in this episode, Anna talks to psychologist Dr. Zak Stein, director of the AI Psychological Harms Research Coalition, about his theory of chatbots and “attachment hacking.”

*name changed for privacy

If you or a loved one had an experience with an AI spiral and want to check out Rob’s discord, send a message through https://thehumanlineproject.org/

Podcast production by Zoe Azulay

About the Show

Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation. All episodes

Host

  • Anna Sale is the creator and host of Death, Sex & Money, the podcast about “the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.” After debuting at the top of the iTunes chart in 2014, Death, Sex & Money was named the #1 podcast of the year by New York Magazine in 2015. Anna won a Gracie for best podcast host in 2016 and the show won the 2018 Webby and 2021 Ambie for best interview show.