5 alarming signs you have become too dependent on ChatGPT

ChatGPT

It probably started with something simple, maybe you asked ChatGPT to fix a sentence in a work email. Then came help with a caption, a dinner plan, or a list of excuses to skip that party. Before you knew it, the chatbot had turned into your go-to helper for everything from writing and researching to life advice.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But here are five signs that maybe, just maybe, you’ve crossed into “too much” territory.

1. You ask ChatGPT before Google or even your own friends

Remember when you used to Google everything or casually ask your friends for advice? Now, whether it’s a recipe, the meaning of a phrase, or help drafting a text, ChatGPT gets the first ping. It's fast and accurate, sure—but if you’ve stopped turning to people around you or doing a basic search yourself, you might be giving up some of your own resourcefulness.

2. You’ve forgotten how to start writing on your own

You sit down to write something, a message, a post, even a to-do list and your first thought is, “Let me just ask ChatGPT.” If you can’t remember the last time you tried to write from scratch, that’s a sign. The bot might be helpful, but your unique voice and creativity matter too. Don’t let a machine rob you of the confidence to express yourself.

3. You turn to it for personal decisions

AI can’t read your emotions. It doesn’t know your history. But that hasn’t stopped you from typing, “Should I quit my job?” or “Is this friendship worth saving?” into the chat box. While it’s nice to get a neutral take, some choices in life need to come from your own gut not a well-worded paragraph from an algorithm.

4. You feel stuck when it’s offline

You open the app, it’s not responding and suddenly your brain short-circuits. If a brief outage makes you feel anxious or lost, it might be time to rebuild your own decision-making muscle. You don’t need AI to finish every thought.

5. You quote ChatGPT more than you’d like to admit

If you’ve caught yourself saying “ChatGPT said…” in conversations—multiple times—you might want to pause. It's a tool, not your life coach.