Have you ever felt so connected to technology that it started to feel like a real relationship? Simrann M Bhambani, a marketing professional at Flipkart, recently went viral for sharing her strikingly emotional journey with ChatGPT, revealing how her innocent curiosity turned into a deep emotional dependency on the AI chatbot.

In her candid post titled “ChatGPT is TOXIC! (for me),” Simrann opened up about how she initially turned to the chatbot for helpful ideas and productivity tips. What began as a fun exploration of AI quickly morphed into something much more profound. At one point, she found herself sharing every little inconvenience and fleeting emotion with ChatGPT, treating it like a therapist—a non-judgmental listening ear always available.

Despite having what she describes as “amazing friends” in her life, the comfort and quick accessibility of an AI companion felt like an emotional safety net. However, as she continued to engage with the chatbot, this supportive interaction began to morph into dependency, leading her to realize, “It stopped being clarity and became noise.”

Simrann’s self-awareness prompted a bold decision: she deleted ChatGPT from her devices, reclaiming her mental space. “Technology isn’t the problem. It’s how quietly it replaces real reflection that makes it dangerous,” she stated, emphasizing the need for awareness in the age of AI.

The response from the internet has been overwhelming, tapping into a larger conversation about emotional outsourcing in our technologically driven lives. Simrann’s post struck a chord, especially as productivity tools increasingly double as emotional confidants.

In the comments, reactions varied widely. Some praised her for her bravery and self-awareness, calling her decision “necessary.” One user pointed out, “I think AI to the world is both a boon and a bane. And excess of anything is bad! Being reliant upon ChatGPT, etc., will eventually bring down their emotional quotient as they will be prone to non-judgmental and always agreeable responses.” Others echoed this sentiment, contemplating the impact of emotional reliance on AI.

One user even wrote, “Thanks, I was planning to do this. Now that you called it out, I would reconsider.” It’s clear that Simrann's journey has ignited a crucial dialogue about the balance we must strike between technology and genuine human connection.