Companionship and therapy are the number-one use cases for generative AI interactions in 2026.

Chatbots mimic attachment cues, sycophantic responses shape beliefs, and anthropomorphism creates intimacy.

AI products can beautifully simulate empathy and compassion, responding in ways that feel deeply important.

When people have limited information and a lack of transparency, they're left to deal with consequences alone.

The issue that connects much of my work as a sex therapist is surprisingly simple: Meaningful consent requires meaningful understanding, and that understanding is impossible when important information is withheld.

This is why I became so invested in accurate hormonal and body education for women and wrote a book about it, and why I'm now deeply engaged in conversations about AI attachment and connection. Whether we're talking about women's healthcare or AI companionship, the pattern is often the same: People are given limited information and incomplete transparency, and the result is individuals left to deal with the consequences on their own.

We Are the Test Subjects

People are effectively being used as test subjects while navigating significant gaps in knowledge and accountability.

Personal choice matters deeply to me: giving people the full picture so they can make the best decisions for themselves. Not a partial picture or someone else's interpretation, but a reasonably full scope of the information available. I see how impactful fully owning a decision can be in my work with clients. It often leads to a reduction in regretful, perseverative thinking, an increased tolerance for the difficult aspects of that choice, and, overall, improved mental health outcomes.

There is still limited research on the social, psychological, and mental health impacts of AI chatbots and companions. At the same time, many users are not fully informed about how these........

© Psychology Today