health
Talking to a bot might feel good in the moment, but a growing body of research suggests it won't cure loneliness
Talking to a chatbot might make you feel better about the conversation, but it may also leave you feeling lonelier.
TL;DR
- A four-week study tracked over 12,000 French adults and found that those conversing with AI chatbots reported increased loneliness and decreased life satisfaction.
- Participants who interacted with chatbots rated their conversations as more pleasant but also spent less time in-person with friends and family and had more meals alone.
- Experts argue that AI interactions lack the crucial element of being 'known' by another person, which is essential for meaningful connection and can even prolong rumination.
- Despite tech leaders' claims that AI can combat loneliness, research suggests it may worsen the epidemic by providing superficial interactions.
- While some pilot programs with older adults showed a decline in loneliness, experts maintain that AI chatbots cannot replace the richness of human relationships.