Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and co-founder of DeepMind, has said that AI chatbots are becoming a powerful tool for humans to offload emotions and emotionally "detoxify" themselves. Speaking on an episode of Mayim Bialik’s “Breakdown” podcast, released on December 16, Suleyman highlighted that companionship and emotional support have emerged as some of the most common and impactful uses of AI today. He noted that people are turning to chatbots not just for information, but to navigate personal challenges—ranging from breakups to family conflicts. “That’s not therapy,” Suleyman clarified, “but because these models were designed to be nonjudgmental, nondirectional, and to use nonviolent communication—emphasizing reflective listening, empathy, and respect—they’ve become something the world deeply needs.” According to Suleyman, the benefit lies in creating a safe, private space where individuals can ask repetitive or seemingly “stupid” questions without fear of embarrassment. Over time, he said, these interactions can help users feel truly seen and understood—something that even close relationships sometimes fail to provide. “The upside is that this is a way to spread kindness and love,” he said. “It helps us detoxify ourselves so we can show up in the best way possible in the real world, with the people we care about.” While Suleyman acknowledges potential risks—such as dependency and the possibility of chatbots being overly flattering or sycophantic—he believes the emotional benefits outweigh the downsides when used responsibly. Not all tech leaders share this optimism. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed concern about people relying on AI for major life decisions. In a post on X in August 2025, he warned that while it might be beneficial for people to trust AI advice, it also makes him uneasy. He later reiterated this concern on the podcast “This Past Weekend with Theo Von,” noting that users’ therapy-like conversations with AI could become legally discoverable in lawsuits, raising privacy and liability issues. Mental health professionals have also voiced caution. In a March 2025 interview with Business Insider’s Julia Pugachevsky, two therapists warned that over-reliance on AI for emotional support could deepen loneliness and foster unhealthy dependency on digital validation. Despite these concerns, Suleyman is not alone in seeing AI’s potential in emotional well-being. In a May 2025 interview with the Stratechery newsletter, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that he believes everyone should have access to a therapist—and that for those who don’t, AI could fill that role. “For people who don’t have a person who’s a therapist,” Zuckerberg said, “I think everyone will have an AI.”