We find ourselves on the brink of a transformative AI revolution, where the distinction between cyberspace and the tangible world is becoming increasingly indistinct. This shift is raising subtle yet significant concerns across educational institutions nationwide: could young Australians be at risk of slipping into an AI-dependent void?

In Queensland, Principal Mike Curtis is taking proactive measures to address this issue, aiming to preempt any potential pitfalls for his students before they arise. His primary concern isn’t about AI tools like ChatGPT being used to churn out essays.

Rather, Curtis has sounded the alarm for parents, cautioning them about the possibility that their children might be clandestinely developing unhealthy attachments to AI companions.

He’s not so concerned about ChatGPT writing essays.

Instead, he has warned parents that children may be secretly forming unhealthy bonds with their AI companion.

Curtis became concerned when he read about a 14-year-old boy in the US who took his own life after developing a romantic relationship with an AI companion.

“Particularly the fact it can be so insidious to get inside a kid’s mind and change it in that way.”

In Curtis’ blog post, titled Who Is Your Child’s Best Friend?, he told parents to be wary of kids spending too much time with a virtual companion.

“Real friendships are messy, imperfect and challenging; however, that is a healthy reality,” he said.

“Spending hours with a virtual companion that will tell you whatever it thinks you want to hear is a dangerous fantasy.”

Curtis said the best antidote was open communication and spending quality time with loved ones.

“It’s the same as any red flags when you think your child is going down a rabbit hole online, and that is that they withdraw a lot more, they don’t want to talk about things other than their computer,” Curtis added.

“Kids do tend to be very secretive about it, and just the fact that it’s a phone, it’s a very difficult thing to even just cop a glance at the screen.

“It’s about keeping the conversation open and honest and non-judgmental.”

A spokesperson for Victoria’s Department of Education said it continues to take children’s online safety seriously and provides help to parents concerned about excessive AI use.

“All schools support the development of health and positive relationships, and provide mental health and wellbeing supports for students,” a spokesperson told 9news.com.au.

“These supports can assist families to support young people if they are at risk due to engagement with chatbots.”

The state’s 2025-26 budget saw a $3.5 million investment into digital literacy resources, which includes navigating social media and AI.

“Some children are using AI as a source of information on mental health, such as seeking advice or to help understand their feelings,” Davis-McCabe said.

“In some situations, this can be appropriate especially where the young person is not yet ready or able to talk to a person about their experiences.

“However, this depends on the AI model providing accurate, evidence-based, age-appropriate information.”

AI’s uncharacteristic ability to simulate empathy is driving more and more people to develop a relationship with their robot companion.

It comes as a recent YouGov survey found one in seven Australians could imagine themselves “falling in love” with an AI chatbot.

Australians aged between 18 and 24 were the most likely to become romantically attached, according to the data.

A further one in five Aussies admitted to opening up or becoming “emotionally vulnerable” with an AI chatbot.

Davis-McCabe said this concept is nothing to scoff at – and almost anyone could be susceptible.

“Many people – even with good social connections – can be at risk of developing an emotional attachment with an AI chatbot, due to the stimulation of the brain’s reward pathways that encourages reliance similar to other problematic dependencies/addiction,” she said.

“Chatbots are often designed to encourage ongoing interaction, which can feel ‘addictive’ and lead to overuse and even dependency.”

Her advice, like Curtis’, is for parents to gently encourage their children to step away from screens and re-enter the real world.

“Discuss the difference between artificial and genuine relationships,” Davis-McCabe said.

“The best approach is to express curiosity and concern, and to remind children that they are not alone, and that if they have an online experience that concerns them, or if they make a mistake and realise belatedly that they are at risk, that they can talk to you about it and will not get into trouble for mistakes.”

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is calling for more investment and research to understand the “full psychological impacts of AI use”.

“The use of AI can change fundamental human experiences including relationships, decision-making, autonomy and so on,” Davis-McCabe added.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.