AI Chatbots and Our Loneliness Epidemic

AI companions could help address rising loneliness, but they should supplement rather than replace human relationships. The article cites 79% of Gen Zs reporting loneliness, compared with 61% of all U.S. adults. Influencer Caryn Marjorie's voice chatbot, CarynAI, earned $71,610 within a week from about 1,000 beta testers paying $1 a minute, and Tyler Cowen theorizes that children may soon have AI chatbot friends.