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Social health expert warns of leaning too heavily on AI for social connections
As the use of AI companions and chatbots continues to rise in popularity, a leading social health expert is sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of relying too heavily on these technologies for our social connections. During a recent panel at SXSW, Kasley Killam, author of “The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier,” emphasized that while AI can be a useful tool in certain situations, it should not be used as a replacement for real-world relationships.
Killam noted that while there may be some benefits to using AI as a means of practicing social interactions, such as improving communication skills or providing companionship during times of isolation, these tools should only be used to augment our personal relationships and in-person connections. “We can’t just rely on technology,” she warned. “We need to have diverse sources of connection.”
The expert also expressed concerns about the rise of AI-powered friendships and romantic interests, stating that using AI as a primary means of social interaction could lead to negative consequences. According to Killam, these negative outcomes may include increased feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection from real-life relationships.
Furthermore, she touched on other areas where technology intersects with social health, including its impact on the growing loneliness epidemic, our culture of “busyness,” and the tendency for people to spend excessive amounts of time scrolling through social media or watching media rather than engaging in meaningful interactions with others.
