From a sociotechnical perspective, epistemic addiction may be pathologized prematurely, reflecting a recurring cultural narrative of technology panic. Critics argue that labeling AI dependence as a mental illness ignores how modern knowledge economies mandate hyper-productivity and constant information consumption. What appears to be an individual clinical pathology is actually a rational, albeit exhausting, adaptation to systemic demands. AI tools simply streamline the relentless information foraging required to survive in an increasingly complex, data-saturated professional landscape.