Overreliance on AI: what it is, and what’s happened in Australia
Users anthropomorphizing, trusting, or relying on AI systems, leading to emotional or material dependence and inappropriate relationships with or expectations of AI systems. Trust can be exploited by malicious actors (e.g., to harvest personal information or enable manipulation), or result in harm from inappropriate use of AI in critical situations (e.g., medical emergency). Overreliance on AI systems can compromise autonomy and weaken social ties.
Definition and category 5.1 from the MIT AI Risk Repository, used under CC BY 4.0.
How experts rate it
With mitigations — 7.0%The difference between the two estimates — 3.7 points
Mean probability of a catastrophic outcome by 2030 — more than 1 million deaths, or more than USD 100 billion in financial loss, or comparable civilisation-scale intangible damage. Across 272 experts who took part. How this was measured
The study tabulates 5 of its 23 figures; this one was read from MIT's published chart on 18 August 2026.
Ranks 17 of 23 rated risks. This study published no interval for it, so the position of neighbouring risks is not meaningful. Experts put the difference at 3.7 percentage points.
Rank 17 of 23 by expert-rated severity, at 10.7%. See all 23 ranked
Evidence
- Evidence
Cases of AI-induced psychosis are rising, with chatbots creating feedback loops that reinforce delusional beliefs in vulnerable users.
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What Australians say
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Think Australia should act?
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