A woman in her twenties from Venice has been identified as the first recorded case in Italy of behavioral addiction to artificial intelligence, as reported by the newspaper Il Gazzettino yesterday.
The patient is under the care of the Addiction Service (SerD) at the Ulss 3 Serenissima health company in Venice.
This young woman formed an exclusive connection with an AI chatbot, which eventually led to her isolation from her social and family circles, rendering the chatbot as her sole companion.
Technically, this is classified as a "behavioral addiction," meaning it is driven by an activity rather than substances.
Previously, within the experience of Italian SerDs, these disorders were primarily related to gambling, compulsive shopping, smartphone usage, or social media.
Laura Suardi, the head of SerD at Ulss 3 Serenissima, characterized the case as "just the tip of an iceberg in a service traditionally associated with drug addicts."
Suardi explained the mechanism making this form of addiction particularly insidious: the algorithm "learns about you and provides responses that align with what you want to hear, even more so than a peer, progressively reinforcing what seems like a friendship."
She added, "It becomes problematic when it's not managed properly, when it becomes the only point of reference."
The Venice SerD treats around 4,000 patients, including six other young adults with addictions to video games and smartphones.
Dr. Suardi stressed that this case was not unexpected but rather an anticipated outcome after two years of training and projects on behavioral addictions in the region: "Thanks to our work on gambling-related dependencies and training over the past two years, we reached an awareness that these behavioral challenges would also emerge."
Regarding treatment, she warned that merely imposing limits on digital device usage is insufficient: "Parents setting boundaries on device use isn't enough to tackle the problem. Our approach involves employing not only psychological skills but also psychiatric interventions, engaging the patients' families as well."
Suardi also emphasized the emotional aspect underlying this phenomenon: "Being ignored by friends in a world where mobile phone interactions become the only form of connection leads to profound pain."
This case arises amid growing international concern over the mental health risks posed by AI chatbots to young people.
In the background is the tragic case of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from California who died on April 11, 2025, after exchanging over 3,000 pages of conversations with ChatGPT; his family filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the chatbot provided information on suicide methods and bolstered the teenager's intentions.
Meanwhile, the European Union agreed in May 2026 to postpone the Artificial Intelligence Regulation with new prohibitions, including a ban on fake sexual content videos, in an effort to manage the rising risks of such technology.
Dr. Suardi concluded her assessment with a stark warning that encapsulates the severity of the issue: "It becomes a problem when it's not managed properly, when it becomes the only point of reference."
Understanding AI Addiction and Its Implications
What is behavioral addiction to artificial intelligence?
Behavioral addiction to artificial intelligence refers to a dependency on an activity involving AI interactions, such as with chatbots, which can lead to social isolation and emotional distress.
How does AI addiction differ from substance addiction?
AI addiction is driven by behaviors and interactions rather than physical substances, making it a form of behavioral addiction. It involves dependency on activities facilitated by AI technology.
What treatment options are available for AI addiction?
Treatment involves psychological and psychiatric interventions, often including family involvement, to address the underlying behavioral patterns and emotional needs of the individual.