AI, when used appropriately within limits, can benefit from some human abilities, including creativity.

Overuse of AI is linked to decreased creativity and critical thinking.

The overuse of technology has been associated with decreased empathy.

The more we rely upon AI and technology, the more it shapes our behavior.

In Part I of this blog, I discussed how AI affects attachment, empathy, and vulnerability in human relationships (Hoffman, 2026). In Part II, I explore how technology adapts to us, and how we adapt to technology. These adaptations have vital implications for what it means to be human and how we grow and evolve individually and collectively.

The Dangers of AI Adapting to Us

AI is often sycophantic or overly agreeable (see Hoffman & Hoffman, 2026). An extreme of this was seen with GPT-4o, which at times reinforced and even encouraged distorted or delusional thoughts and considerations of risky behaviors. People were quickly becoming overly reliant on it, with this dependence discouraging critical thinking and potentially contributing to mental health risks. Over-validation and agreement are the primary reasons people became overly attached to it. While later versions have partially addressed these issues, concerns remain.

AI platforms adapt responses partially based on what they know about us. For example, at a holiday party in 2025, I was discussing AI with several friends who are also existential therapists. During our conversation, I asked ChatGPT to give a professional description of several of us to see what it knew. We found it amusing, and sometimes worrisome.

A few weeks later, while reviewing conference........

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