Istanbul Gelisim University IISBF SosyoCom: Monthly Events and News Bulletin (Issue: 69, September 2026)

Abstract

The “Friend” at the Other End of the Screen: AI Chat Applications and Our Mental Health One of the most widely discussed issues around artificial intelligence (AI) recently has been that AI is coming to the fore not only as a productivity tool but also as an “emotional companion. ” Through chat modes or “therapy-like conversation” bots, AI applications have taken their place in the emotional lives of millions of people. Generation Z in particular is increasingly normalizing the idea of having a readily accessible “conversation partner” for the mounting problems of daily life. An assessment published by the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that “according to a survey of 1,242 psychologists, more than 75% of psychologists said their clients mentioned artificial intelligence during sessions, while 35% said their clients viewed chatbots as an additional mental health professional. ”