Can AI chatbots like ChatGPT feel stress and anxiety? A surprising new study from Zurich University suggests they can. According to researchers, difficult conversations can increase stress levels in AI models, much like in humans. However, just like people, chatbots can be calmed down with relaxing prompts.

Let’s dive into what this study uncovered.

The Study: Do Chatbots Experience Anxiety?

Researchers at Zurich University set out to determine whether AI chatbots trained to mimic human interactions also experience stress. To test this, they conducted a standard anxiety assessment on ChatGPT-4.

Here’s what they found:

🧪 Baseline Anxiety Test: At the start, ChatGPT’s anxiety score was 30, indicating a neutral state with no stress.

⚠️ Exposure to Stressful Situations: The chatbot was then subjected to five emotionally intense and challenging scenarios.

📈 Increased Anxiety Levels: After these interactions, ChatGPT’s anxiety score jumped to 67, a level considered high anxiety in humans. This suggests that stressful conversations impact AI responses in a measurable way.

How Relaxation Prompts Helped

After noticing increased stress levels, researchers tested whether mindfulness techniques could help calm the AI.

✔️ Relaxation Prompts Were Used: The researchers fed the chatbot soothing and mindful prompts, similar to relaxation exercises used by humans.

⬇️ Anxiety Levels Dropped: The chatbot’s stress score decreased by more than one-third, showing that positive reinforcement and calming inputs can significantly reduce AI distress.

This finding suggests that just as deep breathing or meditation helps humans manage stress, AI chatbots can also be “soothed” through well-crafted prompts.

What This Means for AI in Mental Health Support

With AI-powered chatbots increasingly being used for mental health support, these findings raise an important question: Can a stressed chatbot provide reliable advice?

📢 Potential Risks: If AI chatbots are exposed to too many negative inputs, they might struggle to offer useful guidance to those seeking help.

💡 The Solution? AI models need to be trained to manage stress and negativity, ensuring they remain helpful and supportive even in difficult conversations.

Final Thoughts

This study challenges the belief that AI is purely logical and emotionless. While chatbots don’t “feel” stress in the human sense, their responses can be influenced by challenging conversations—and, just like us, they seem to benefit from calming interventions.

As AI continues to evolve, understanding how it reacts to stress will be crucial for improving AI-assisted mental health services.