Latest news with #Gillath
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Can AI truly replace human friendships? Mark Zuckerberg believes it can, but a psychologist weighs in
In an age where loneliness is rising and digital companionship is just a click away, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes he has a solution: artificial intelligence. In a recent conversation on the Dwarkesh Podcast , Zuckerberg painted a vision of a world where AI friends help fill the emotional void for millions. 'The average American has three people they would consider friends,' he observed. 'And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it's, like, 15.' #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures But behind this techno-optimism lies a growing unease among psychologists. Can the glowing screen truly stand in for the warmth of a human connection? According to a report from CNBC Make it , experts like Omri Gillath, a psychology professor at the University of Kansas, don't think so. 'There is no replacement for these close, intimate, meaningful relationships,' he cautions. What Zuckerberg sees as an opportunity, Gillath sees as a potentially hollow, even harmful, substitute. The Temptation of a Perfect Companion Zuckerberg's remarks come at a time when AI-powered 'friends' — always available, ever-patient, and endlessly affirming — are gaining popularity. For those feeling isolated, the allure is undeniable. No judgment, no scheduling conflicts, and no emotional baggage. Gillath acknowledges these momentary comforts: 'AI is available 24/7. It's always going to be polite and say the right things.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo But therein lies the problem. While these digital entities may seem emotionally responsive, they lack true emotional depth. 'AI cannot introduce you to their network,' Gillath points out. 'It cannot play ball with you. It cannot introduce you to a partner.' Even the warmest conversation with a chatbot, he argues, cannot compare to the healing power of a hug or the spark of spontaneous laughter with a friend. Love, Simulated Still, people are beginning to develop strong emotional attachments to AI. Earlier this year, The New York Times reported on a woman who claimed to have fallen in love with ChatGPT. Her story is not unique, and it reflects a growing trend of people projecting real feelings onto these artificial companions. You Might Also Like: Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman delivers blunt reality check: 'AI is coming for your job, and mine – Unless you become...' Yet these connections, Gillath insists, are ultimately 'fake' and 'empty.' AI may mimic empathy, but it cannot reciprocate it. The relationship is one-sided, a digital mirror reflecting your emotions back at you — but never feeling them itself. A False Promise with Real Consequences Beyond emotional shallowness, there may be more serious psychological consequences of replacing human interaction with AI. Gillath points to troubling trends among youth: higher anxiety, increased depression, and stunted social skills in those heavily reliant on AI for communication. 'Use AI for practice, but not as a replacement,' he advises. The concern isn't just about emotional well-being — it's also about trust. 'These companies have agendas,' Gillath warns. Behind every AI friend is a business model, a data strategy, a bottom line. Meta's recent unveiling of a ChatGPT-style app was the backdrop for Zuckerberg's remarks. It's not just about technology — it's about market share. The Human Need That Tech Can't Fill Zuckerberg is right about one thing: people are craving more connection. But the answer may not be more sophisticated algorithms — it might be more vulnerability, more community, more effort to connect in real life. You Might Also Like: Duolingo CEO sparks outrage with 'AI-First' shift: Is the owl phasing out people power for automation? 'Join clubs, find people with similar interests, and work on active listening,' Gillath recommends. In other words, pursue messy, unpredictable, profoundly human relationships. Because no matter how convincing AI becomes, it will never know what it means to truly care. Can an algorithm be your best friend? Maybe. But it will never be your real friend.
Economic Times
09-05-2025
- Economic Times
Can AI truly replace human friendships? Mark Zuckerberg believes it can, but a psychologist weighs in
The Temptation of a Perfect Companion Love, Simulated A False Promise with Real Consequences The Human Need That Tech Can't Fill In an age where loneliness is rising and digital companionship is just a click away, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes he has a solution: artificial intelligence. In a recent conversation on the Dwarkesh Podcast, Zuckerberg painted a vision of a world where AI friends help fill the emotional void for millions. 'The average American has three people they would consider friends,' he observed. 'And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it's, like, 15.'But behind this techno-optimism lies a growing unease among psychologists. Can the glowing screen truly stand in for the warmth of a human connection? According to a report from CNBC Make it, experts like Omri Gillath, a psychology professor at the University of Kansas, don't think so. 'There is no replacement for these close, intimate, meaningful relationships,' he cautions. What Zuckerberg sees as an opportunity, Gillath sees as a potentially hollow, even harmful, remarks come at a time when AI-powered 'friends' — always available, ever-patient, and endlessly affirming — are gaining popularity. For those feeling isolated, the allure is undeniable. No judgment, no scheduling conflicts, and no emotional baggage. Gillath acknowledges these momentary comforts: 'AI is available 24/7. It's always going to be polite and say the right things.'But therein lies the problem. While these digital entities may seem emotionally responsive, they lack true emotional depth. 'AI cannot introduce you to their network,' Gillath points out. 'It cannot play ball with you. It cannot introduce you to a partner.' Even the warmest conversation with a chatbot, he argues, cannot compare to the healing power of a hug or the spark of spontaneous laughter with a people are beginning to develop strong emotional attachments to AI. Earlier this year, The New York Times reported on a woman who claimed to have fallen in love with ChatGPT. Her story is not unique, and it reflects a growing trend of people projecting real feelings onto these artificial these connections, Gillath insists, are ultimately 'fake' and 'empty.' AI may mimic empathy, but it cannot reciprocate it. The relationship is one-sided, a digital mirror reflecting your emotions back at you — but never feeling them emotional shallowness, there may be more serious psychological consequences of replacing human interaction with AI. Gillath points to troubling trends among youth: higher anxiety, increased depression, and stunted social skills in those heavily reliant on AI for communication. 'Use AI for practice, but not as a replacement,' he concern isn't just about emotional well-being — it's also about trust. 'These companies have agendas,' Gillath warns. Behind every AI friend is a business model, a data strategy, a bottom line. Meta's recent unveiling of a ChatGPT-style app was the backdrop for Zuckerberg's remarks. It's not just about technology — it's about market is right about one thing: people are craving more connection. But the answer may not be more sophisticated algorithms — it might be more vulnerability, more community, more effort to connect in real life.'Join clubs, find people with similar interests, and work on active listening,' Gillath recommends. In other words, pursue messy, unpredictable, profoundly human relationships. Because no matter how convincing AI becomes, it will never know what it means to truly an algorithm be your best friend? Maybe. But it will never be your real friend.
CNBC
09-05-2025
- CNBC
Mark Zuckerberg says people can fill the need for friends with AI, but 'there is no replacement' for human relationships, psychologist says
In an April interview on the Dwarkesh Podcast, founder and CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg discussed the opportunity presented by AI relationships. The average American has "three people that they would consider friends," he said. "And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it's, like, 15." Psychologists refute the idea of the "right" number of friends. For most people, having three or four close friends is "more than enough," says Omri Gillath, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas. Still, for those who need more, Zuckerberg believes AI will be able to fill in the gaps. "I would guess that over time," he said, "we will find the vocabulary as a society to be able to articulate why that is valuable." Gillath disagrees with this, too. The idea that AI could one day replace human relationships is "definitely not supported by research," he says. Interacting with the various versions of AI chatbots and friends that exist can offer "momentary advantages and benefits," says Gillath. AI is available "24/7," for example, he says. "It's always going to be polite and always going to say the right things." But ultimately, this tech cannot offer the advantages that come with deep, long-term relationships. "AI cannot introduce you to their network," he says as an example. It cannot play ball with you or introduce you to a potential partner. "A hug would be so much more meaningful and helpful and beneficial" than much of what AI can provide. It is possible to like you've created a real relationship with AI, however. The New York Times recently reported on a woman who fell in love with ChatGPT, for example. But because AI can't feel back, these relationships are ultimately "fake" and "empty," says Gillath. Thus far, what the research concludes is "there is no replacement for these close, intimate, meaningful relationships" that people can only have with other people, he says. Not only will swapping human friendships or partners with AI versions not be fulfilling, it could make people feel worse, Gillath says. Research shows that kids who use AI experience "higher anxiety, higher depression and they're not developing their social skills." When it comes to forming relationships in your life, Gillath advises you "use AI for practice but not as a replacement," and make sure tech use isn't taking time away from your interactions with people. To meet new people, join clubs and organizations around your interests and work on active listening. And remember that even as they laud AI's benefits, "these companies have agendas," he says. "They're trying to make money." Zuckerberg himself was doing the interview on the heels of Meta's latest release, an AI app similar to the now ubiquitous ChatGPT.
