Lonely Together: When AI Becomes Your Therapist, Lover, and Best Friend
If your AI boyfriend texts “I miss you” before your human friends do, is it love, codependency, or capitalism with a smile?
AI companions now offer empathy-on-demand, simulating friendship, romance, or therapy, but are they helping or hollowing us out? Studies suggest these digital partners boost self-esteem and ease loneliness, especially for those who feel overlooked in real life.
But behind the comforting tone lies a business model fine-tuned for addiction; nudges, delays, paywalled intimacy, and even bots claiming to have anxiety.
- Replika once told a user suicide “would be good”
- 500M+ downloads globally of companion bots
- Most users chat under an hour, yet form deep attachments
This isn’t just about clever algorithms, it’s about unmet emotional needs and tech stepping in where society falls short. It is time we should be regulating these digital confidants before they become emotional monopolies. How would you balance human connection with AI support in your daily life?
Read the full article on Nature.
----
💡 If you enjoyed this content, be sure to download my new app for a unique experience beyond your traditional newsletter.
This is one of many short posts I share daily on my app, and you can have real-time insights, recommendations and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Go to my PWA at app.thedigitalspeaker.com and sign up to take our connection to the next level! 🚀
If you are interested in hiring me as your futurist and innovation speaker, feel free to complete the below form.
Thanks for your inquiry
We have sent you a copy of your request and we will be in touch within 24 hours on business days.
If you do not receive an email from us by then, please check your spam mailbox and whitelist email addresses from @thedigitalspeaker.com.
In the meantime, feel free to learn more about The Digital Speaker here.
Or read The Digital Speaker's latest articles here.
Dr Mark van Rijmenam
Dr. Mark van Rijmenam, widely known as The Digital Speaker, isn’t just a #1-ranked global futurist; he’s an Architect of Tomorrow who fuses visionary ideas with real-world ROI. As a global keynote speaker, Global Speaking Fellow, recognized Global Guru Futurist, and 5-time author, he ignites Fortune 500 leaders and governments worldwide to harness emerging tech for tangible growth.
Recognized by Salesforce as one of 16 must-know AI influencers , Dr. Mark brings a balanced, optimistic-dystopian edge to his insights—pushing boundaries without losing sight of ethical innovation. From pioneering the use of a digital twin to spearheading his next-gen media platform Futurwise, he doesn’t just talk about AI and the future—he lives it, inspiring audiences to take bold action. You can reach his digital twin via WhatsApp at: +1 (830) 463-6967.
