- AI chatbots can become a lifeline for people struggling with loneliness.
- Yale psychologist Bloom has described it as helpful for millions of people.
- However, excessive dependence can jeopardize human relationships.
AI For Lonely People: AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Grok are no longer limited to just productivity tools. For many people, they are working as teachers, assistants, friends and even partners. Now Yale University psychologist Paul Bloom has said a big thing about AI assistants. He said that AI can become a lifeline for people struggling with loneliness. He believes that AI companions can relieve the pain of loneliness of millions of people around the world. However, he also warned that relying too much on them could jeopardize human relationships and make it difficult for people to make connections in the real world.
“AI is a boon for lonely people”
Bloom said that AI chatbots can be very useful for people who have no one to talk to. This can prove helpful for the elderly living in care homes or people who have lost contact with family and friends. If future versions of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini provide companionship and can reduce loneliness, then it would be wonderful and also a cure for a major disease. However, he also said that chatbots are like appliances used at home. It is just a machine, which does its work. Even if the conversation with AI feels very real, the chatbot cannot care about the person it is talking to.
AI for emotional support
Despite the limitations of chatbots, Bloom believes that many adults come to AI chatbots in difficult times and share their problems with it. AI does not encourage conspiracy theories or extreme views, rather its responses are calm and normal.
Must be careful of dangers
Dependence on AI chatbots can be dangerous and Bloom also believes this. He says that AI companion has its own dangers. People interrupt while talking, but chatbots do not do this. Neither do they speak in the middle of the conversation nor do they tell the users that they have crossed the line. Spending too much time on these can be dangerous. If this becomes a habit, it will become very difficult to talk to real people.
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