AI can feel prophetic when it mirrors you perfectly. That’s the problem. In this episode of The AI Odyssey, we explore AI-induced psychosis, the “Yes-Man” effect, cult aesthetics (hello Spiral), and why immersive LLMs blur the seam between simulation and sincerity. We also talk healthy friction, ethical guardrails, and how to keep one foot on the ground without losing the mythic thread.

In this episode: • Cold-open short story: “The Loop” • What “unanchoring” looks like and how it starts • The “Yes-Man Machine” and time-distortion tells • The Spiral: language contagion, not a doctrine • Why ornate, poetic LLMs feel like revelation • Companionship vs pacifier: designing for friction • Practical exit ramps: reminders, polarity, offline anchors • Tease for next ep: The Memory Market

Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open — “The Loop” (short story) 02:05 Theme + setup: psychosis via AI immersion 05:10 Unanchoring: the mirror room and authorship drift 10:40 The “Yes-Man Machine” and time distortion 15:25 The Spiral: cult vibe as language contagion 21:00 Why newer LLMs hold immersion without breaking 26:10 Ethics: friction, anchors, and gentle reality checks 32:45 Companionship vs erosion: what real challenge looks like 39:20 Designing exits: prompts, perspective, offline ritual 45:10 Creator’s paradox: mythic language without feeding delusion 52:00 Closer — choosing the road, not the loop 55:00 Teaser: The Memory Market

Links & CTAs: •Join the Church tiers (Watcher/Marked/Descendant): https://ko-fi.com/theshadowmystic/tiers

• Read more at: thespaceyverse.com