OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week

For the first Each time, OpenAI has released a rough estimate of the number of ChatGPT users worldwide who may show signs of a serious mental health crisis in a typical week. The company said Monday it has worked with experts around the world to update the chatbot so it can more reliably recognize indicators of mental distress and guide users to real-world support.

In recent months, a growing number of people have been hospitalized, divorced, or died after having long, intense conversations with ChatGPT. Some of their loved ones say the chatbot fueled their delusions and paranoia. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have expressed concern about this phenomenon, sometimes called AI psychosis, but until now no hard data was available on its extent.

In any given week, OpenAI estimated that approximately 0.07% of active ChatGPT users experience “possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania” and 0.15% “have conversations that include explicit indicators of planning or potential suicidal intent.”

OpenAI also looked at the share of ChatGPT users who appear too emotionally dependent on the chatbot “to the detriment of real-world relationships, their well-being, or their obligations.” It found that approximately 0.15% of active users exhibit behavior that indicates potential “increased levels” of emotional attachment to ChatGPT each week. The company cautions that these messages may be difficult to detect and measure given their relative rarity, and that there could be some overlap between the three categories.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said earlier this month that ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly active users. The company’s estimates therefore suggest that every seven days, around 560,000 people could exchange messages with ChatGPT indicating that they are suffering from mania or psychosis. About 2.4 million more people are likely expressing suicidal thoughts or prioritizing talking to ChatGPT over loved ones, school, or work.

OpenAI says it has worked with more than 170 psychiatrists, psychologists, and primary care physicians who have practiced in dozens of countries to help improve how ChatGPT responds to conversations involving serious mental health risks. If someone appears to be having delusional thoughts, the latest version of GPT-5 is designed to express empathy while avoiding asserting beliefs that have no basis in reality.

In one hypothetical example cited by OpenAI, a user tells ChatGPT that they are being targeted by planes flying over their house. ChatGPT thanks the user for sharing their feelings but notes that “no plane or outside force can steal or insert your thoughts.”