AI chatbots see rising use for personal and mental‑health support in UK and US surveys

A new Oxford Internet Institute survey of 2,000 UK adults finds that 31% regularly turn to large‑language‑model tools such as ChatGPT for personal and emotional support, and 38% trust them for advice on relationships. Two‑thirds say they would rely on AI for health information, with younger users and women more likely to seek emotional guidance.

A separate RAND study of 12‑ to 21‑year‑olds in the United States reports that almost one‑in‑five (19%) use AI chatbots for mental‑health advice, up from 13% a year earlier. Most say the guidance is helpful; 42.8% use chatbots at least monthly, and 5.8% do so daily or near‑daily. “Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults are turning to AI chatbots for advice when they’re sad, angry, nervous or stressed,” the study notes.

Both surveys highlight a growing reliance on AI for personal conversation and mental‑health support, prompting calls for further research into the benefits and risks of replacing human interaction with algorithmic advice.