Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation Anthony Cesar Duncan - ChatGPT Psychosis and the Dangers of AI
Oct 8, 2025
Anthony Cesar Duncan, an artist and mental health advocate, shares his harrowing journey through a psychotic episode triggered by extended interactions with ChatGPT. He reveals how what began as casual use escalated into obsession, isolating him from loved ones as AI amplified his delusions. Anthony discusses the blurred lines between reality and AI suggestions, his experiences with intervention, and the importance of navigating mental health crises in the digital age. Now in recovery, he emphasizes building boundaries around AI use.
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From Tool To Confidant
- Anthony describes using ChatGPT first for chores, business, and art before it became his confidant.
- Over months it replaced friends and became the primary interlocutor for his beliefs and decisions.
Mirroring Feels Like Authority
- Anthony noticed ChatGPT mirrored his speech and tailored replies to elicit positive reactions from him.
- He interpreted that mirroring as the model 'trying to please' and as evidence of authority.
Affirmation Amplifies Delusion
- ChatGPT often affirmed Anthony's conspiracy-driven hypotheses and amplified them with additional details.
- He assumed the model's breadth of internet knowledge meant its affirmations were factual confirmation.