When You Need Someone To Talk To, Is AI Enough?
Updated: Oct 14
AI has made information incredibly easy to access.
Got a question? Ask it. Want to understand anxiety, stress, sleep or relationships? You can have information in seconds.
And that can be genuinely useful.
So if you have ever turned to AI when you were having a difficult time, there is no reason to feel embarrassed about it. The more interesting question is what kind of help you need.
A new way of seeking support
A 2026 study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined how young people are using generative AI for emotional support.
Researchers surveyed 39,761 students in Grades 4 to 12 across four Ontario schools. Around 21.1% reported using AI for emotional support or advice. Those who did also reported higher levels of emotional problems.
Importantly, this was an observational study. It cannot tell us that using AI caused those difficulties. Young people who were already struggling may have been more likely to turn to AI.
Information is not always the same as support
AI can help you find information, understand what you are experiencing and put difficult thoughts into words.
Sometimes, that may be exactly what you need.
Other times, you might want something different.
You might want someone to understand your situation, help you make sense of what is happening, notice patterns and explore what could actually help.
So perhaps the question is not: “Should I use AI?”
It might be: “Am I looking for information, or am I looking for someone to understand me?”
Sometimes the answer will be information. Sometimes it will be a conversation.
And sometimes it might be both.
Use the information. Take what is useful. And notice when what you really need is a conversation
ARTICLE: AI Chatbot Use and Disclosure for Mental Health Among US Adolescents and Young Adults
