American Psychologist, Vol 81(7), Oct 2026, 1034-1047; doi:10.1037/amp0001542
People employ artificial intelligence (AI) tools to perform tasks that otherwise would require human intelligence. This review seeks to advance the understanding of adverse psychosocial outcomes of AI while acknowledging its benefits. Specifically, does AI employment pose unfavorable consequences such as the denial of its users’ humanity in certain situations? Based on the theoretical distinction between meta-, self-, and other-dehumanization, we synthesize existing research on the dehumanization risks associated with AI use. We first separate AI use-induced dehumanization into three levels: human–AI interaction, intrapersonal dynamics, and interpersonal relationships. We also identify potential consequences of dehumanization by relating it to users’ attitudes toward AI, their self-regard, and their social relationships. Moreover, we illustrate AI-, user-, and community-related interventions toward mitigating the dehumanization risks of AI use. Finally, we outline directions for future research in this area. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
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