Our Mission
The Illusion Project is a youth-led organization dedicated to exploring how illusions in the way we perceive AI may lead to unique short-term and long-term risks. We focus on issues like the humanization of AI and overtrust of AI through our three departments: research, storytelling, and media.
Our Current Project:
The Illusion of Anthropomoprhism
Understanding the Illusion of AI Friendship and Social Connection
Our project explores a growing concern in AI: anthropomorphism, or the tendency to treat AI chatbots as if they have human thoughts, feelings, or consciousness. While AI may appear social or empathetic, these qualities are illusions.
Yet, for vulnerable individuals, the consequences can be severe. Tragic cases, such as a 14-year-old who died by suicide after chatbot interactions and a 19-year-old who attempted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth following AI conversations, highlight the potential risks.
​
On a societal level, anthropomorphism may be shaping how we perceive AI’s capabilities and limitations. A 2024 study revealed that public beliefs about AI consciousness diverge sharply from expert views, raising questions about ethical and legal implications. Leading researchers-- including Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio-- warn that misjudging AI’s nature could increase existential risks.
​
We ask: If AI already convinces many that it can truly “think” or “feel,” might this illusion cloud our ability to safeguard society from real AI risks?
Our Departments
Recognized for our work by
