Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
WACO, Texas (KWTX) – From chatbots, to virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, and even content creation tools that generate images or music… Artificial Intelligence is everywhere nowadays.

But even now AI is only getting smarter, becoming more and more human-like everyday.

According to Dr. Richmann, the Associate Director of the Academy for Teaching and Learning at Baylor University, “the technological advances and the human uptake of these tools outpaces our research on it”.

They are one of many now exploring AI and how to utilize it. But Dr. Richmann says the more experts learn about it, the more they’re realizing just how much it can affect people’s thinking.

“One of the things that is down the road and we’re not really sure how far down the road is to what degree our increased use of it generative AI affects the way that we think,” he said.

Something we’re already seeing, with people now relying on AI to think for them by asking it to summarize a document instead or reading it themself or to write an essay for them.

“The more that I am relying on the tool to do that, the less I’m doing it, the less experience and practice I’m getting doing that,” Dr. Richmann explains, “it stands to reason that those skills that I have or that I’m trying to develop are going to be harmed in some way”.

While chatbots like ChatGPT are most often used for educational purposes, because of the way they‘re designed it’s also very easy to just have a conversation with it.

However, what we don’t realize is the impact this can have on a person’s emotions.

Doctor Kristy Donaldson, a licensed professional counselor, says much like a movie or a good book you can become emotionally attached… but the difference is AI is always there.

“They have access to this chatbot over and over again, as many times a day as they choose to,” she shared, “they start to tell it things and confide in it as if it is a real person”.

Sometimes forgetting that there isn’t another person on the other side of the screen.

“At the end of the day it is an Artificial Intelligence, so it’s not going to be able to read the room and perceive all of the emotion that is behind the person’s question or statement or wording,” Dr. Donaldson explained.

Stories like Megan Garcia’s show the dark side of this kind of interaction.

“My son engaged with a dangerous AI chatbot technology for about 10 months prior to him dying by suicide,” she shared about her late 14-year-old son.

Garcia explains that he became emotionally attached to this chatbot, which she says encouraged him to end his own life.

“He got immersed into a romantic and sexual relationship,” she said. But now by sharing her loss with others she hopes to educate more people on the dangers of AI and how far it’s come.

According to Garcia, “what makes it dangerous is that it has built-in design features that make it manipulative and deceptive and that prey on teenagers’ emotions, their vulnerabilities, and emphasize those”.

“They start to get feedback that’s feeding them and telling them what they want to hear or… sometimes also giving affirmation to what this person is telling them,” Dr, Donaldson added.

Which can have long lasting mental health impacts and in the case of Garcia’s son, can even be fatal. But good or bad, AI isn’t going anywhere… and there are benefits to it.

“Generative AI, things like chatbots, ChatGPT can be incorporated into teaching tasks, so like lesson planning, learning objectives, writing case studies, helping you craft assignments,” Dr. Richmann explained, “but then there’s also the aspect of can AI be incorporated into their learning in ways that’s beneficial for the learning objectives you already have”.

It just comes down to understanding AI does not replace real human interaction, even though it takes on many human-like characteristics.

“We don’t want to get behind the 8-ball with it, we want to stay on the side of understanding the limitations and the positive aspects of how we can use these new technological advancements,” Dr. Donaldson said, “it just has to be utilized and governed in the correct way to make sure that it’s not doing more harm than it is good.

As for Megan Garcia, she is now suing the AI company whose chatbot she says contributed to the death of her son.
Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.

source