The relational shift: why we need “AI Psychology” Now as a core field

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly shifting from tools to integrated relational partners, reshaping human psychological experience. Existing frameworks, including Cyberpsychology and Human–Computer Interaction, capture only part of the resulting cognitive, emotional, developmental, and social dynamics. This paper presents a conceptual framework and a position statement that argues for the formal establishment of AI Psychology as a distinct and essential interdisciplinary field. AI Psychology focuses on the scientific study of human behavior, cognition, emotion, and well-being as they are shaped by interactions with AI systems perceived as relational agents, with priority given to human responses rather than the machine's internal state. The need for this field arises from AI's expanding roles as companion, collaborator, and competitor; documented psychological effects such as attachment formation, trust calibration, and cognitive interdependence; and the limits of current disciplines to explain these human–AI dynamics.The paper proposes a roadmap that identifies core research priorities, outlines academic program development, and calls for professional standards and ethical guidelines. AI Psychology is presented as more than a timely specialization. It is a foundational evolution for psychology, crucial for explaining the human condition in an increasingly AI-mediated world and for sustaining the discipline's scientific and societal relevance.