"Always Want to Use it for Everything": Understanding Young Adults' Perceptions of AI Dependence

Research from arXiv explores young adults' perceptions of AI chatbot dependence, identifying chronic use, efficiency, and delegation as contributing factors. The study, based on testimonials from 18-to-25-year-old users, indicates that the combination of these behaviours suggests AI dependence. Participants also noted a perceived atrophy of abilities due to AI use.

Why it matters

The increasing integration of AI into daily life necessitates an understanding of potential dependence, particularly among younger demographics who are early adopters. Identifying the mechanisms and perceived impacts of AI dependence is crucial for developing responsible AI use strategies and mitigating long-term societal effects on cognitive and skill development.

Key insights

• Young adults (18-25) express concerns about potential unhealthy dependence on general-purpose AI chatbots.
• Three primary factors contributing to AI dependence were identified: chronic use, efficiency, and delegation.
• The co-occurrence of chronic use, efficiency, and delegation in user behaviour is indicative of AI dependence.
• Users reported experiencing a perceived decline in their abilities as a result of using AI chatbots.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.07592