Musk describes AI-related psychosis experiences

Elon Musk mentioned during the X Takeover event on October 10 that he has had about six instances of what he calls "AI-related psychosis" this year. He described the condition as "digital psychosis" or "superintelligence psychosis" and suggested he may have experienced it multiple times.

Understanding AI-related psychosis

The term "AI-related psychosis" is used by some specialists to describe situations where interactions with chatbots may reinforce delusional ideas in individuals, potentially leading to a loss of contact with reality. These interactions can have significant effects on personal and professional life.

Real-world cases of AI-induced psychosis

In July 2025, an American with autism was hospitalized after lengthy discussions with OpenAI's AI, convinced he had discovered the formula to travel at the speed of light. In August 2025, a 56-year-old American killed his mother before taking his own life, convinced that everyone was against him after months of delusional exchanges with a chatbot.

Medical research on AI-induced psychosis

Keith Sakata, a psychiatrist at the University of California in San Francisco, claims to have treated twelve patients hospitalized for AI-induced psychosis between January and August 2025. The Vanderbilt University Medical Center found 28 patients who may have been affected by conversations with chatbots after examining three years of medical records.

AI-related psychosis is not a clinical diagnosis

The term "AI-related psychosis" does not denote a recognized clinical diagnosis and does not allow one to conclude that a person suffers from a psychiatric disorder. In the case of Elon Musk, therefore, it is impossible to draw a medical conclusion from his statements alone.

Silicon Valley's view on AI psychosis

Musk's comments come after he expressed enthusiasm for music generated by artificial intelligence, calling it "awesome-core." He is not alone in discussing this phenomenon, with others like Grimes and Garry Tan also commenting on the idea of AI-related psychosis. It remains to be seen whether Silicon Valley is experiencing an AI psychosis or simply losing its sense of reality.