AI Friends Are Not Your Friends, Here’s Why

Contact Your Elected Officials

AI companions, however enticing, are like offering someone who is cold a video of a warm fire rather than matches and timber.

Science fiction prepared us for AI friends through films like “Her” and “Robot & Frank.” Now, that fictional portrayal is becoming a reality.

In a recent podcast, Mark Zuckerberg proposed and endorsed the idea that Americans are in dire need of social connection, and that bots could fill the need.

AI companions are designed to feel comforting, have unfailing patience, and have no needs of their own. However, “It’s not so simple as saying a companion chatbot will solve the loneliness epidemic,” Princeton researcher Rose Guingrich told The Epoch Times. Instead, AI tools risk undermining the very social skills they purport to support.

Silicon Valley’s Promised Panacea

Nearly half of Americans have three or fewer close friends. Tech’s solution to the human loneliness problem is to offer AI companions—digital friends, therapists, or even romantic partners programmed to simulate conversation, empathy, and understanding. Unlike the clunky chatbots of yesteryear, today’s sophisticated systems are built on large language models that engage in seemingly natural dialogue, track your preferences, and respond with apparent emotional intelligence.

Early usage patterns reflect why AI “companions” are gaining appeal. A 2024 MIT Media Lab survey found that the majority of users engage out of curiosity or entertainment. However, 12  percent of respondents said they sought relief from loneliness, while 14 percent wanted to discuss personal issues that might feel too risky to share with human counterparts.

“I sometime[s] feel lonely and just want to be left alone,” one user reported. “During this time I like chatting with my AI companion because I feel safe and won’t … be judged for the inadequate decisions I have made.”

Meanwhile, other users have more quotidian motivations for using bots—chatting with AI for dinner ideas or developing writing ideas.

Kelly Merrill, an assistant professor of health communication and technology and researcher on AI interactions, shared an example of an older woman in his community who started using AI for basic things. For example, “I have these six ingredients in my fridge. What can I make tonight for dinner?” “She was just blown away,” Merrill told The Epoch Times. For sure, there are benefits, he said, but it’s not all positive.

By Makai Allbert

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Government Shutdown, Health Care, Tax Breaks=Perfect Storm

The shutdown over cuts to health subsidies for the poor stems from Trump’s OBBB plan, which critics say funneled trillions to the wealthy.

3I/Atlas Comet or UFO Arrives Tomorrow!

The 3I/Atlas object is hurtling toward our solar system on a strange path and composition, set to pass behind the sun, obscuring visual and radio tracking.

‘I’d Be Finished’: Vaccine Researcher Trashes Own Study to Save Career

Most doctors comply with the system, following orders to keep their jobs, income, and prestige, even if it means setting aside independent judgment.

Kamala, Please Run Again

Kamala Harris hinted she wants to run for President in 2028, despite poor poll numbers and her loss in 2024. If she runs, the big winners will be the GOP.

Rosie O’Donnell vs. Her Therapist

Rosie O’Donnell's therapist attempted to artfully introduce to her client to the possibility that Rosie's outrage might be performative. It didn’t take.

Elon Musk Launches AI-Powered Grokipedia as Rival to Wikipedia

On Oct. 28 Elon Musk launched Grokipedia, an open-source, AI-powered encyclopedia serving as an alternative to Wikipedia.

Federal Judge Extends Order Blocking Firings During Shutdown

A federal judge on Oct. 28 indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Los Angeles Dethrones Chicago as ‘Rattiest’ US City

Los Angeles has dethroned Chicago as the “rattiest” U.S. city after more than a decade, becoming the new top haven for rodents.

Prediction of Climate Catastrophe Loses Some of Its Strongest Advocates

Bill Gates says the “doomsday view” of climate catastrophe is wrong, signaling a major shift in the global warming debate.

Trump, Japanese PM Sign Critical Minerals, Rare Earths Deal

The U.S. president visited Tokyo on the second leg...

Trump Hikes Canada’s Tariffs by 10 Percent for Not Pulling Anti-Tariff Ad Immediately

Trump announced he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% after ad by provincial government of Ontario misrepresented President Reagan’s speech on tariffs.

Trump Rolls Back Emissions Rules on Copper Smelters

President Trump issued a proclamation aimed at reversing a Biden-era environmental rule that enforced stricter air emission standards on copper smelters.

Donor Gives $130 Million to Cover Shortfall in Troop Pay During Shutdown

Trump announced on Oct. 23 that an anonymous donor sent $130M to cover military pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central