Exploring AI Psychosis (feat. Dr. Ian Gold, author of Suspicious Minds)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's special interview episode:
- We sit down with Dr. Ian Gold, Professor of Philosophy & Psychiatry at McGill University, and author of Suspicious Minds.
- We define the slippery boundaries between psychosis, delusion, and conspiracy theories - and where those become 'clinical'.
- A deep dive into "AI Psychosis," the "Truman Show Delusion," and whether AI models are the first real "Philosophical Zombies."
- We explore how culture and environment—including the virtual environment of the internet—act as risk factors for mental illness.
Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: https://sayhi.chat/FAIK
You can also join our Discord server here: https://faik.to/discord
*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
Our Guest: Dr. Ian Gold:
- Dr. Ian Gold's Website: https://www.socialscience.international/ian-gold
- Get the Book "Suspicious Minds": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Suspicious-Minds/Joel-Gold/9781439181560
- Check out the "Suspicious Minds" Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suspicious-minds-ai-and-psychosis/id1844631307
- Watch the first episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_snbD6NzQa0?si=88KXKTtEzCJ0s3BX
Defining the Madness:
- "Every generation gets the psychosis it deserves."
- Dr. Gold explains the difference between clinical psychosis (treated as illness) and conspiracy theories (informational issues, not treated), even when the beliefs are nearly identical.
- The concept of "Mentalizing": Our innate psychological disposition to attribute mental states and consciousness to language users.
AI, Zombies, and The Truman Show:
- The "Truman Show Delusion": The belief that one is the subject of a reality show, coined by Joel Gold.
- Philosophical Zombies (P-Zombies): Is ChatGPT an entity that looks human from the outside but has "no one home" on the inside?
- Environmental Psychosis: Comparing the potential for AI-induced psychosis to phenomena like the Jerusalem Syndrome or Stendhal Syndrome, where specific environments trigger temporary psychotic states.
Social Determinants and The Virtual City:
- Known risk factors for psychosis include adverse experiences, immigrant status, and living in dense cities.
- The discussion raises a critical question: If living in a big city increases psychosis risk, does living on the internet (a virtual mega-city) carry the same risks?
- The "Moral Panic" cycle: From radio to AI, how we react to new technology vs. legitimate concerns about political influence and mental health.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
- Get the Book: FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions (Amazon Associates link)
- Check out the website for more info: https://thisbookisfaik.com
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
- Perry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter
- Perry on X: https://x.com/perrycarpenter
- Perry on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social
Connect with Mason:
- Mason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/
- Mason on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing
