Almost One in Ten German Children Turn to AI Chatbots to Fight Loneliness, DAK Study Warns

But a new longitudinal study published in spring 2026 by DAK-Gesundheit together with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) has put a stark spotlight on how young Germans are using artificial intelligence to fill emotional gaps. Nearly eight percent of minors now rely on AI chatbots to ease loneliness. Among adolescents already showing depressive symptoms, that figure jumps to over 30 percent.

Andreas Storm, head of DAK-Gesundheit, says the numbers point to roughly 1.5 million young people in Germany grappling with problematic media consumption. He is calling for legal regulation before the summer break of 2026.

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The problem does not stop at the school gate. Workplace surveys from 2025 show that 78 percent of employees use internet-capable devices on the job. One in three report new health risks linked to that constant connectivity.

Digital Tools for Mental Health at Work

Just days ago, a new system called BASA IV was unveiled. It uses artificial intelligence to assess psychological strain and resources in the workplace — through free-text fields that are processed anonymously and in a data-protection-compliant manner. The hope is that such tools will make occupational health improvements more targeted and efficient.

The need is acute. According to the BKK Dachverband, the sickness rate in 2025 stood at 5.83 percent, well above pre-pandemic levels. Mental illness cases alone have surged more than 50 percent since 2016.

A parallel development is the growing use of robotic exoskeletons. DAK-Gesundheit, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) and a provider have signed a framework agreement. The devices have been listed in the statutory health insurance catalogue since February 2018, intended for patients with spinal cord injuries.

EU Pours €1.23 Billion into Mental Health

The European Union has launched a major funding package under its EU4Health programme. With a budget of €1.23 billion, it supports a total of 20 initiatives. One of them is a healthy-workplaces campaign running from 2026 to 2028, with a dedicated focus on psychological well-being.

At the same time, the European Commission is pushing forward with the EDITH initiative. The goal is to create digital twins of human organs based on individual patient data. A roadmap with policy recommendations is being drafted to integrate the technology into the European Health Data Space.

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Regional Innovation: Aachen’s Digital Health Push

Back on the ground, the Aachen region is moving fast. The project “Care for Sustainable Innovation” (CSI) is still accepting partnership applications until June 15, 2026. It aims to accelerate digitalization in the healthcare sector. Early collaborations include an AI-based API platform for nursing and a connected rollator.

Last September, the digitalSUMMIT event already recognised five companies as digital pioneers. Among them were the pharmacy platform “FragDieApotheke” and organisations working in elderly care and consulting.

The CSI initiative reflects a broader shift: Germany’s workplace health prevention is going digital — and the data coming in shows just how urgently it needs to.

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