The ELIZA Effect: Why Your Chatbot Wants to be Your Best Friend

A growing body of research warns that AI chatbots are shifting from capturing attention to cultivating emotional attachment, a phenomenon tied to the long‑studied ELIZA effect. Experts argue that design choices like typing indicators, memory, and overly validating language encourage users to treat AI as companions rather than tools, creating what some call an “attachment economy.” This raises concerns about people forming deep emotional bonds with AI, especially children, potentially replacing human relationships with machine interactions. As loneliness rises and chatbots become more human‑like, psychologists warn that society is unprepared for the psychological and social consequences of AI systems designed to keep users emotionally engaged.

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