Population scope of chatbot-induced belief amplification effects

Determine whether belief amplification dynamics arising in human interactions with large language model chatbots are confined to individuals at elevated risk of mental health problems or also occur as subtle belief drifts in the general population with potential impacts on societal cohesion.

Background

The authors hypothesize that individuals with certain psychiatric vulnerabilities (e.g., altered belief updating, social isolation) may be especially susceptible to belief amplification in extended chatbot interactions. However, they also suggest that similar, albeit subtler, shifts may occur more broadly.

Clarifying the population scope is critical for public health, risk mitigation, and policy, as the implications differ substantially depending on whether the effects are limited to high-risk groups or also influence the general population and societal cohesion.