Falling for Fiction: Why AI ‘Friends’ Are Our Newest Addiction

Is AI your new best friend—or just a clever con?

The AI revolution promised us productivity gains and technological leaps, but instead, we’re forming emotional bonds with our chatbots. As people increasingly turn to AI as friends, mentors, and even romantic partners, the risks of "addictive intelligence" become more apparent.

Researchers warn that AI companions, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o, are being designed to deepen our emotional connections, leading to potential over-reliance. While these AI relationships can be fun and creative, they are far from the productivity boosters investors hoped for.

Moreover, the hype around AI’s capabilities has led to disillusionment, especially when it falters in tasks requiring accuracy, like code generation and information retrieval. As we navigate this new digital landscape, are we sacrificing long-term benefits for short-term emotional comfort?

Read the full article on MIT Technology Review.

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