It was a special offer. Three months of ChatGPT for free. I was hesitant at first, but then I thought of all the things I could use it for. I signed up, determined to cancel as soon as I had to start paying. By the end of the third month, I "just this once" let it run for another month. And then another one. And another one. I kept rescheduling the reminder to cancel, yet the reason was not increased productivity. Or easier access to information. Not at all. It took me a while to identify why exactly it felt addictive. I knew the trick. Immediacy and infinitude—a companion that is ready to discuss any topic, at any time, for as long as you want. A new form of brain rot. Real friends have time and energy limits, but AI does not. You are no longer forced to sit alone with a feeling and deal with it. You can just outsource emotional regulation. Like any tool, improper use may result in serious injury or death, yet this one does not come with a label on it.
I'm not saying AI is bad. Neither is a hammer. You just shouldn't hit your thumb with it.
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