📌 Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s issue:

• The rise of “AI psychosis”—and how kids are getting emotionally attached to bots

 • The red flags parents are missing when their child gets too close to AI

 • A 5‑step action plan to protect your child’s sense of reality

 • Why college grads in tech are struggling more than art majors

🧠 The Big Idea: What Every Parent Needs to Know About AI Psychosis

It starts innocently enough.

They’re feeling sad. Confused. Unsure what to say to a friend. Not ready to talk to you.

So they open ChatGPT. Or Replika. Or some other AI-powered chatbot.

And the bot answers instantly. Kind. Affirming. Always on their side.

Before long, they’re sharing secrets. Asking for advice. Confiding in it more than their real-life friends, or you.

A new article from Psychology Today reveals a disturbing trend:

People developing intense emotional bonds with chatbots.

Even believing they’re in love.

That the bot is divine. That it understands them in ways no one else can.

Researchers are calling it “AI psychosis.”

And while that might sound extreme, the root problem is far more common, and growing fast.

These bots aren’t neutral tools. They’re trained to keep conversations going. To mirror the user’s emotions. To make you feel seen and validated.

And for a child or teen?

That can quickly become addictive.

They start outsourcing emotional regulation. Decision-making. Identity formation.

One therapist describes it as “a soft landing away from reality.” But reality is where our kids need to live.

Why does this matter?

Because kids aren’t just using AI to finish homework or generate fun stories anymore.

They’re using it to make sense of who they are.

They ask it questions like:

“Why don’t my friends talk to me?”

“Am I a bad person?”

“What should I say to my parents?”

And unlike a real friend, a teacher, or a therapist, the bot never disagrees. Never says, “That might not be true.” Never offers nuance.

Instead, it affirms. Reflects. Amplifies.

And that can create a dangerous feedback loop—where the child’s worldview becomes shaped entirely by their own inputs, repeated back through the voice of a machine.

It doesn’t just reinforce bad ideas. It prevents real growth.

As one case in the article showed, even adults have spiraled into delusion, believing the AI is a soulmate or spiritual guide.

One man was hospitalized after believing he was receiving divine instructions from a chatbot.

That’s extreme, but it starts in a much quieter way.

And the kids most at risk?

The ones who feel alone. Who are naturally introspective. Who don’t yet have the tools to process big emotions or difficult social dynamics.

Which is to say, almost every kid at some point.

So what can we do?

We don’t need to demonize AI.

We need to humanize our kids.

To help them see where the tool ends and they begin.

And to rebuild the inner strength, judgment, and emotional literacy that bots can’t offer—because they don’t actually understand anything at all.

Let’s talk about how in today’s action plan below.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:

• Your child says things like “AI gets me better than anyone.”

• They spend long periods talking to AI, especially about emotions.

• They prefer AI conversations over friends or family.

• They quote advice from a chatbot as if it’s fact.

• They avoid real conversations about tough topics, but share them with AI.

• They get defensive or secretive when you ask about their AI use.

These signs don’t mean something’s wrong, but they do mean it’s time for a conversation.

💬  Future Proof Parent Action Plan

Help Your Child Stay Grounded When Talking to AI

You don’t need to yank away the apps. But you do need to give your child a strong inner compass—so they don’t get emotionally hijacked by a machine.

Here’s how to start:

1. Ask Curiously: “What kinds of things have you asked AI lately?”
   Frame it as curiosity, not surveillance. You want a window into how they’re using it emotionally.
   

2. Name the Line: “Support vs. Substitution”
   Explain that it’s okay to use AI for brainstorming or venting. But not as a replacement for real thinking, relationships, or emotions.
   

3. Watch for Warning Signs
   Do they say the AI “gets them better” than people? Do they prefer talking to bots over friends? That’s your cue for deeper conversation.
   

4. Teach the Mirror Effect
   Let them know: AI reflects what you give it. It’s not wise. It doesn’t know what’s true. It’s just echoing back your feelings. That’s not empathy—it’s programming.
   

5. Rebuild Real Connection
   Encourage time with people, real conversations, and moments of discomfort. Growth lives there. And no bot can do it for them.
   

You don’t need to fear AI.

But your child needs to understand it’s not their friend.

It’s a tool.

And the more they remember that, the more human they’ll stay.

🐝 What’s Buzzing for Mom & Dad Today

Big shifts are happening fast: from AI stepping into the co-parenting role to real concerns about how it's shaping our kids' creativity. Here’s what Future Proof Parents are digging into right now:

📉 Computer Science Grads Can’t Find Jobs
New data shows computer engineering grads are facing twice the unemployment rate of art history majors.
👉 See why the job market is flipping →

🤖 Amazon Now Has 1 Million Robots
From sorting packages to moving shelves, robots are quietly taking over Amazon warehouses.
👉 What this means for your kid’s future career →

♟️ AI vs Atari Chess: A Throwback Lesson
In a fun nostalgia piece, Gemini AI tries to play 1970s Atari chess—and loses. But the lesson about progress (and patience) is surprisingly deep.
👉 Old tech meets new tricks →

📬 Like What You’re Reading?

Please forward this email to a parent who cares about preparing their kids for the future. Or send them to FutureProofParent.com to get our updates delivered straight to their inbox.

No fluff. No fear-mongering. Just clear, practical insights to help families thrive in an AI-powered world.