An article by psychology professor Paul Bloom in The New Yorker suggests that by filling the void left by loneliness, A.I. companions might undermine essential parts of what makes us human.
Loneliness is widespread, Bloom says. “A little like a toothache of the soul.”
It’s being taken more seriously around the world, warranting government intervention and considerable study. In both Japan and the U.K., ministers for loneliness have been established. A 2023 report issued by the U.S. Surgeon General provided evidence that loneliness increases our risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, and premature death.
While Bloom recognizes the utility and potential benefits of A.I. companions, especially among the elderly and those facing cognitive impairments, he thinks that they can distract from what loneliness is trying to tell us.
Bloom points to philosophers, cultural historians, psychologists, and neuroscientists who have written about loneliness to underline its value. They suggest that beneath the feeling of loneliness is our need for connection and to feel understood. While it can be painful, loneliness can also serve as a guide.
“It can push us to text a friend, show up for brunch, open the dating app. It can also make us try harder with the people already in our lives—working to regulate our moods, to manage conflict, to be genuinely interested in others,” Bloom writes.
“The discomfort of loneliness shapes us in ways we don’t recognize—and we may not like what we become without it,” Bloom suggests.