This article provides a comprehensive sociological and interdisciplinary analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on digital addiction, with particular attention to the automation of online gambling. The study aims to reveal the causes and social consequences of the “digital drug” phenomenon that is increasingly embedded in contemporary society, drawing on leading social theories to facilitate its interpretation. The methodology is based on a review of interdisciplinary academic literature, data from the World Health Organization (WHO), and recent studies in psychology and information technology. In addition, the relationship between platform algorithms and user behavior is examined.

The findings demonstrate that in today’s risk-laden society, digital addiction is intensifying, while social media and online games replicate gambling mechanics that continuously activate the human reward system. The ability of artificial intelligence to deliver personalized content functions as a concealed form of “instrumental power,” influencing users’ consciousness. Due to the 24/7 accessibility of online gambling platforms, which surpasses traditional casino formats, the scale of ludomania has expanded, posing heightened risks especially for youth and socially vulnerable groups.

These phenomena are interpreted through the lenses of Anthony Giddens’ and Ulrich Beck’s theories of modernization, Manuel Castells’ concept of the network society, Shoshana Zuboff’s notion of surveillance capitalism, and Gilles Deleuze’s idea of the society of control. Furthermore, Robert Granfield’s concept of “addiction fetishism” enables a departure from a narrowly biomedical perspective, emphasizing the importance of examining digital addiction within a socio-cultural context. Thus, AI-driven automated gambling and digital addiction represent a new form of social pathology emerging in the era of globalization. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated preventive policies and interventions at the individual, family, and institutional levels. The article concludes with specific recommendations and potential solutions.