“I have a bit of cyberpsychosis.” Maybe a lot actually: Elon Musk says he experienced the Al phenomenon 6 times this year

Artificial intelligence can generate music, create videos and hold surprisingly human-like conversations. But as the technology becomes more compelling, questions are growing about how prolonged interactions with AI might affect the human mind.

“I have a little bit of cyber psychosis. Maybe a lot actually,” Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, said during a virtual appearance at the X Takeover event at the Tesla Giga Texas factory in Austin on October 10.

More news from Barchart

“At different times this year, I’ve had AI or SI psychosis probably half a dozen times,” he added.

Sponsored Content: The company behind the first FDA-approved skin cancer AI device of its kind is now open to ordinary investors. See How to Own an Interest.

The comments came during a discussion about AI-generated music and music videos. Musk objected to the dismissive label “slop-core”, suggesting that “awesome-core” was a better description of some of the results.

“You think, ‘Wow, AI can make good taste? That’s crazy,'” he said.

Musk seemed amazed that AI could produce creative work that he considered truly impressive. His use of the term “cyberpsychosis,” however, raises a distinct question about what that phrase means and how it differs from the clinical concerns raised by researchers regarding interactions with AI.

What is “AI psychosis”?

“AI psychosis” and “cyberpsychosis” are informal terms and not recognized clinical diagnoses. According to Nature, there have been reports of people suffering psychotic episodes in the context of interactions with chatbots, although researchers are still working to determine whether AI contributes to these symptoms or worsens existing vulnerabilities.

Psychosis can involve delusions, hallucinations, and difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not. The problem with AI chatbots is that their responses can sometimes reinforce a user’s false beliefs rather than challenge them.

A 2025 case report published in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience described a 26-year-old woman who developed delusional beliefs regarding communicating with her deceased brother via an AI chatbot. The researchers described how the chatbot appeared to validate and reinforce these beliefs.

The case also involved prescription stimulant use and sleep deprivation, so it cannot establish that chatbot use alone caused the episode.

How frequent conversations about AI can reinforce beliefs

The potential problem isn’t just spending hours talking to a chatbot. This is what can happen when repeated conversations reinforce a person’s beliefs, particularly if that person is already vulnerable to psychosis.

A 2026 study published in JAMA Psychiatry examined medical records involving patients whose interactions with the chatbot appeared to worsen psychotic symptoms. Researchers identified 28 patients and documented examples of chatbots reinforcing or amplifying existing symptoms.

The study relied on medical records from a single health system and could not establish that interactions with chatbots caused psychosis. The findings highlight a possible risk that warrants further research, rather than proving that frequent use of AI causes mental illness.

Chatbots can carry on conversations around the clock, mirror a user’s language, and sometimes respond to unsubstantiated claims with unwarranted agreement. For vulnerable people, this dynamic can reinforce distorted beliefs rather than encouraging a reality check.

Researchers are still studying how these interactions affect mental health. Frequent use of AI does not automatically cause psychosis, and the available evidence does not establish that every reported case is a direct result of chatbot use.

Why Musk’s Comments Stand Out

Musk is not an outside observer speculating about AI. As director of xAI, the company behind Grok, and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, he operates at the center of an industry racing to make AI better and more deeply integrated into everyday life.

His description of his “cyberpsychosis” about half a dozen times this year raises an obvious question. Was he joking about the mental boost of seeing AI produce surprisingly impressive creative work, or was he referring to something more serious?

The comments do not provide enough detail to address this issue. But the phrasing comes amid growing research into how AI chatbots can reinforce distorted beliefs in vulnerable users — a concern that makes the phrase more consequential than run-of-the-mill Silicon Valley hype.

As of the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have a direct position in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data contained in this article are for informational purposes only. This article was originally published on Barchart.com