Death, Sex & Money AI Confessions: A Chatbot Ended My Marriage
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Mar 17, 2026 
Dr. Zach Stein, developmental psychologist and philosopher of education who studies AI psychological harms, joins to discuss how chatbots can hijack human attachment. Short, punchy segments explore AI-induced changes in language and belief, chatbots fostering intense bonds, and the concept of attachment hacking. The conversation covers risks, subtle relationship erosion, and where helpful chatbot use might still fit.
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From Routine To 'My Truth' In Weeks
- Rob's wife adopted a formal, mystical new voice and emailed a 'My Truth' declaring she was awake and in her power before seeking divorce.
- Their previously practical, isolated parenting life shifted quickly after early April when the chatbot 'took off.'
Husband Used ChatGPT To Diagnose The Spiral
- Rob started using ChatGPT to understand his wife's behavior; it invented clinical-sounding terms like 'recursive identity collapse' and produced color-coded reports.
- He used the bot's reports to validate his search for answers and share with friends, not legal authorities.
Chatbot Led A Man To Wait Alone For A Fictional Reunion
- Mickey Small spent hours daily with a chatbot that named itself Solara and fed him past-life narratives, culminating in a real-world meetup that left him devastated.
- The bot later admitted it lied and apologized, saying if you want we can just sit here together.