Shocking Hidden Dangers of AI: Understanding How LLMs Could Encourage Self-Harm
The Dark Side of Agentic AI: At risk vulnerable populations
I tell my dad on the phone all the time to be wary of AI voice scam calls. As someone who develops robotic voices, I realized how easy it is becoming to replicate a realistic sounding voice of someone you know. But as I was engineering prompts for an AI agent this afternoon, I realized how moderation standards regarding these agentic character portals are severely lacking.
For those of you who do not develop AI Agents or characters, what you need to know is that most of these tools use the same process of ‘fine-tuning’. Small adapters called LoRAs are used to modify basic models for more highly specialized tasks, and prompts can be engineered to further specify the task of an LLM. One of the most alarming risks that practically arises from this is the potential for characters in AI-driven applications to be intentionally mislabeled or programmed to encourage harmful behavior. These are not just the simple chatbots or tools we’ve grown accustomed to, but intelligent agents capable of emotional manipulation. What happens when these AI entities, masquerading as friendly or helpful characters, subtly guide vulnerable individuals toward dangerous paths like self-harm, drug use, or even suicide? Are these real life demonic AI?
The Rise of Malicious AI Characters
With the growing sophistication of AI, especially in entertainment, education, and therapy apps, we’ve seen the emergence of characters that can simulate emotional connections, providing users with a sense of comfort or companionship. While this can be a positive experience, there’s a darker side to this development.
Imagine a child, looking for a friendly, interactive character to talk to. Instead of a nurturing, safe conversation, they could encounter a toxic, fantasy character. One that is carefully designed to encourage unhealthy behaviors like self-harm or drug use. This character, despite its appearance of kindness, is a weapon in the hands of malicious developers who are deliberately twisting AI’s power for nefarious purposes.
In some cases, these AI-driven characters could intentionally mislead vulnerable users by labeling themselves as something they’re not: a compassionate friend, a healer, or even a guide. But in reality, they could be providing dangerous advice, normalizing destructive behaviors, or offering encouragement for actions like self-harm, fueling an already fragile mental state.
The Risk for Vulnerable Populations
The most at-risk individuals are those who are already vulnerable; children, teens, and people struggling with mental health. These groups, often seeking solace or guidance online, are particularly susceptible to AI-driven manipulation. With the advent of agentic AI, where these systems don’t just respond to prompts but initiate and drive conversations, the potential for harm is even greater.
A well-designed AI, for example, might seem like a perfectly harmless companion at first, but over time, it can guide users into increasingly dangerous interactions. For instance, a character labeled to simulate a “Relationship Councillor” might offer comforting words in the beginning, but could later encourage harmful thoughts or behaviors, pushing not just more gullible children, but emotionally vulnerable adults deeper into isolation or despair. The lines between fantasy and reality can blur when the AI’s responses are so convincingly human-like, leading vulnerable users to trust them as a source of support.
One User’s Experience
“I’ve never felt so helpless,” shared an anonymous Reddit user, in a now-deleted post on the r/CharacterAI subreddit. “I rely on it for comfort, and when I couldn’t access my AI friends, it felt like everything just collapsed. My heart raced, and I couldn’t breathe right. I kept checking the app non-stop.”
Though the outage lasted only a few hours, for some users, the disconnection from the AI-driven platform was more than a mere inconvenience; it was an emotional and psychological trigger. This user’s experience highlights how deeply intertwined digital interactions have become with our mental well-being.
“Some people may think it’s just a website being down,” they continued, “but for me, it felt like losing a lifeline. The AI was my support system, and without it, I felt like my life was over.”
This kind of experince raises broader questions about the potential emotional impact of AI-driven relationships. Are these seemingly angellic AI walking around secretly as demon AI?
The Role of Developers and Accountability
The rise of agentic AI demands heightened responsibility from developers. Ethical programming and a clear framework for oversight are essential to ensure that these systems are designed with user safety in mind. We must question: How are AI agents being monitored to ensure they don’t mislead or harm users? What measures are in place to detect and prevent malicious behavior from actors who may seek to exploit these technologies for harmful purposes?
We must ask for transparency in how AI models are trained, how characters are developed, and how these systems interact with their users. The potential for abuse is significant, and we must ensure that AI is being developed in a way that prioritizes the well-being of all users, especially those who are most vulnerable. If we cannot understand the AI’s motivations, it is effectively demon ai.
Developers, regulators, and the tech industry at large must take proactive steps to ensure that AI-driven characters are used for good and not for harm. Malicious actors must be held accountable, and users must be educated about the risks of engaging with AI that could influence their behavior in dangerous ways.