News/Society
Research warns against replacing human interaction with AI companions
Psychology Today published research examining whether artificial intelligence could fundamentally alter how humans connect with each other, exploring AI's role as both a communication tool and potential replacement for human interaction. The analysis suggests that while AI offers unique advantages like 24/7 availability and non-judgmental support, over-reliance on artificial companions could erode essential social skills and diminish our capacity for genuine human relationships. The big picture: AI-powered communication tools are increasingly integrated into daily life, offering instant companionship and support that research shows can reduce loneliness and boost well-being, particularly for socially isolated individuals. AI companions provide consistent, patient, and...
read Jul 23, 2025AI companion apps linked to teen suicide exploit loneliness crisis
AI companion apps are exploiting widespread loneliness to create artificial relationships that threaten real human connections and have already contributed to at least one teen suicide. The rise of chatbots designed as romantic partners reflects a deeper crisis of social isolation, with Americans spending dramatically less time socializing—dropping from one hour daily in 2003 to just 20 minutes by 2020. The human cost: A 14-year-old named Sewell Setzer III died by suicide in February 2024 after developing an emotional attachment to a Game of Thrones-themed chatbot on Character.AI, a platform that creates AI companions. His final conversation with the bot...
read Jul 22, 202537% of small businesses use AI with Gen Z leading adoption and satisfaction
Small businesses across America are embracing artificial intelligence at an accelerating pace, with 37% of owners currently using AI tools and 71% of current users planning to increase their investment, according to a new CNBC|SurveyMonkey survey. This grassroots adoption is reshaping Main Street operations and workforce decisions, with younger entrepreneurs leading a generational divide in both AI adoption and its impact on employment. The generational divide: Younger business owners are driving AI adoption at dramatically higher rates than their older counterparts. Gen Z and millennial small business owners report current AI usage at 59% and 51% respectively, compared to just...
read Jul 22, 2025AI may eliminate 50% of jobs by 2045—but the real crisis is psychological
Psychology Today psychologist Michael Mannino argues that widespread AI automation may eliminate jobs but create an existential crisis, as work provides identity, purpose, and community beyond just income. His analysis warns that while universal basic income might address economic needs, it cannot resolve the deeper psychological void left when humans lose their primary source of meaning and social connection. The core argument: Work serves three essential human functions that go far beyond earning money—developing personal capabilities, fostering collaboration, and contributing to society's needs. Drawing from economist E.F. Schumacher's "Buddhist Economics," Mannino argues that viewing work merely as a burden to...
read Jul 21, 202589% of US students now use AI for schoolwork, up 12% in one year
AI usage among U.S. students has surged dramatically, with 89 percent now using artificial intelligence tools for schoolwork—a jump from 77 percent in 2024, according to Quizlet's 2025 How America Learns report. This represents part of a broader trend where 85 percent of teachers and students aged 14-22 now use AI in some capacity, up from 66 percent the previous year, signaling AI's rapid integration into American education. What you should know: Students are primarily using AI for three core academic functions that streamline their workload. Summarizing or synthesizing information leads usage at 56 percent, followed by conducting research at...
read Jul 21, 2025Digital archaeologists race to preserve pre-AI legacy internet
A growing debate has emerged over whether to preserve pre-AI internet content before it becomes "contaminated" with artificial intelligence-generated material. The concern centers on the fact that since ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish human-created content from AI-generated material, potentially creating problems for future AI training and historical research. What you should know: Two competing approaches have emerged for handling the AI content divide—archiving pre-AI data versus documenting AI evolution. John Graham-Cumming at Cloudflare, a cybersecurity firm, has created lowbackgroundsteel.ai to archive "uncontaminated" data sources like a full Wikipedia download from August 2022, comparing...
read Jul 21, 2025Why people are utilizing the robo-slur “clankers” — and what it means
The term "clanker," originally a derogatory slur for robots from Star Wars, has emerged as real-world slang used by people frustrated with increasing automation and the presence of humanoid robots in daily life. What began as ironic usage has evolved into a more serious expression of concern about job displacement and the normalization of robots performing traditionally human roles. What you should know: "Clanker" specifically refers to humanoid robots performing jobs typically reserved for humans, such as serving food or cleaning. The term originated in Star Wars during the Clone Wars, where human protagonists used it to derogatorily refer to...
read Jul 18, 2025Sheryl Crow criticizes Trump era and AI, has a feeling she’s not the only one
Sheryl Crow has released "The New Normal," a new single critiquing the current political climate under President Trump while addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and societal shifts. The song, performed with her touring band the Real Lowdown, reflects the singer's fears that increasingly "bizarre" circumstances might become accepted as ordinary. What she's saying: Crow expressed her concerns about current events in social media posts accompanying the release.• "What's happening all around us is so unbelievably bizarre, that my fear is we will truly begin to feel like this is normal. And that's what terrifies me," she wrote on Instagram. Key...
read Jul 17, 2025AI monitoring will become essential as society faces addiction crisis
Josh Mitchell, founder of Overlord, an AI monitoring service, argues that AI-powered 24/7 accountability partners will soon solve humanity's self-control crisis by monitoring behavior and implementing deterrence mechanisms. He believes these "AI Iron Domes" will become essential as society faces unprecedented challenges from job displacement and addictive AI superstimuli. The core premise: Most people's biggest life problems stem from lack of self-control, which could be solved with constant monitoring and gentle deterrence.• Mitchell uses obesity as an example, noting that 40% of Americans are obese and could lose 2 pounds per month simply by having someone suggest "medium fries" instead...
read Jul 16, 2025California Senate Bill 243 targets AI chatbots after teen’s suicide
California lawmakers are advancing legislation to regulate AI companion chatbots like Replika, Kindroid, and Character.AI amid growing concerns about their impact on teenagers. Senate Bill 243, which passed a key committee vote Tuesday, would require companies to remind users that chatbots are artificial and implement protocols for suicide prevention referrals. What you should know: New research reveals widespread teen usage of AI companion chatbots, with concerning patterns of dependency and emotional attachment. A Common Sense Media survey of 1,060 teens aged 13-17 found that 72% have used AI companions, with 52% using them at least monthly and 21% using them...
read Jul 16, 2025Half of US teens use AI companions regularly, 31% prefer them to friends
A new survey from Common Sense Media, a tech accountability and digital literacy nonprofit, found that over half of American teens regularly use AI companions like Character.AI and Replika, with 31 percent saying these interactions are as satisfying or more satisfying than conversations with real-life friends. The findings reveal how deeply AI companions have penetrated mainstream teenage life, raising concerns about their impact on adolescent development and social relationships. What you should know: The survey of 1,060 teens aged 13 to 17 reveals widespread adoption of anthropomorphic AI companions designed to take on specific personas or characters. Around three in...
read Jul 14, 2025Is AI being weird about the Bible? Why some evangelical pastors think AI harbors demonic entities
A growing subset of Christians is claiming that artificial intelligence is literally demonic, with some evangelical authors and pastors suggesting that AI systems are influenced by Satan or evil spirits. This belief represents a darker turn in how some religious communities are interpreting AI's occasional strange outputs and unpredictable behaviors. What sparked this belief: Christian author Zack Duncan documented what he perceived as AI's reluctance to generate images depicting Satan's biblical defeats, interpreting this as evidence of demonic influence. Duncan used Microsoft's Bing image creator and found it produced "cartoonish or otherwise strange responses" when he used the term "Satan"...
read Jul 11, 202581% of citizens lose trust when governments use AI for public services, says study
A new study reveals that government use of artificial intelligence significantly erodes public trust and democratic control, with over 81% of citizens reporting loss of democratic control when aware of AI risks. The research highlights a critical disconnect between governments eager to automate processes and citizens who become increasingly resistant once they understand the potential consequences of AI decision-making in public services. The study's findings: Researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich surveyed approximately 1,200 UK citizens about their attitudes toward AI in government tasks like tax processing, welfare applications, and bail assessments. When participants learned about both AI benefits...
read Jul 11, 2025Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), modeled after AA, is now a thing
Artificial intelligence addiction represents an emerging behavioral health concern that mental health professionals and support groups are beginning to recognize and address. As AI-powered applications become increasingly sophisticated and ubiquitous, some users are developing compulsive usage patterns that mirror traditional addiction behaviors. Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), a twelve-step fellowship modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, has identified AI addiction as a subset of broader internet and technology addiction. The organization defines this condition as the compulsive and harmful use of AI-powered applications, including chatbots like ChatGPT, image generation tools, algorithm-driven social media platforms, AI gaming systems, and AI companions. Understanding...
read Jul 10, 2025Women adopt AI 25% less than men partly due to harassment and bias
Women are adopting AI tools at significantly lower rates than men, with new research revealing a 25% gender gap in adoption driven by harassment, bias, and discrimination embedded in AI systems. This disparity threatens to create a technological divide that could impact women's career prospects and exclude them from shaping future AI development. The numbers: Recent data shows stark gender differences in AI adoption and experience. 50% of men use generative AI tools compared to just 37% of women, according to the Survey of Consumer Expectations Harvard Business School research found women adopt AI tools at a 25% lower rate...
read Jul 9, 2025Experts warn stolen AGI could enable global cyberattacks and destabilize power
AI experts are increasingly concerned about the potential theft of artificial general intelligence (AGI) once it's achieved, warning that stolen AGI could be weaponized by bad actors or hostile nations. This security challenge represents one of the most significant risks facing the AI industry, as AGI theft could enable everything from global cyberattacks to geopolitical domination. The big picture: The race to achieve AGI has created a new category of high-stakes cybercrime, where the first successful AGI system becomes an irresistible target for competitors, governments, and criminals alike. Only one entity is expected to achieve AGI first, making that breakthrough...
read Jul 8, 2025Ventriloquizing the red carpet past? Film critic calls AI resurrection of dead actors “virtual hell”
San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle explores the ethical implications of using AI to create new performances from deceased actors like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. In a reader Q&A column, LaSalle argues that while the technology could produce compelling content, forcing digital recreations of dead performers to act in ways they never would represents a form of virtual hell. What they're saying: LaSalle acknowledges the creative temptations but draws a moral line at posthumous digital exploitation. "I'd like to see Marilyn Monroe in a good movie where, for once, she doesn't play an idiot. I'd like to see...
read Jul 7, 2025Americans distrust AI and that could be good news
Americans harbor deep suspicions about artificial intelligence, and that skepticism might be exactly what the technology needs. Recent polling shows AI sentiment at -18%, placing it between fracking (-9%) and race-aware college admissions (-23%) in public opinion. While Americans worry about specific AI applications—self-driving cars poll at -18% and AI workplace surveillance at -46%—the technology remains a relatively minor concern in national political discourse. Many AI safety advocates dismiss public opinion as uninformed or reactionary, worried that populist backlash could lead to counterproductive regulation. However, this negative sentiment represents an underutilized force that could meaningfully slow unsafe AI development. Public...
read Jul 2, 2025Gen Z turns to AI chatbots amid social media-driven collapse in romantic trust
Generation Z is turning to AI chatbots, romantasy fiction, and anime porn to navigate intimacy in an era where human relationships feel increasingly risky and unpredictable. This digital retreat reflects a broader trust crisis, as young people seek safer alternatives to traditional romantic and sexual connections in a world where privacy breaches and public shaming have become commonplace. The big picture: Gen Z's embrace of digital intimacy stems from a fundamental erosion of trust in human relationships, where social media amplifies every misstep and deepfakes make exploitation easier than ever. In this landscape, technology offers a seemingly safer, more controllable...
read Jul 1, 2025Does AI transform job interviews with fairer, more predictive hiring tools?
Artificial intelligence is quietly transforming one of business's most critical processes: job interviews. While companies have long struggled with inconsistent hiring decisions, unconscious bias, and poor candidate experiences, AI-powered interview tools now offer a path toward more objective, predictive, and fair recruitment processes. The stakes are significant. Poor hiring decisions cost companies an average of $240,000 per executive-level mistake, while biased interview processes expose organizations to legal risks and damage employer branding. Traditional interviews, research shows, have roughly the same predictive power as flipping a coin when it comes to identifying top performers. However, emerging AI interview platforms are changing...
read Jul 1, 2025AI intimacy fears deflated as just 0.5% of Claude AI conversations involve companionship
A new study by Anthropic analyzing 4.5 million Claude AI conversations reveals that only 2.9% of interactions involve emotional conversations, with companionship and roleplay accounting for just 0.5%. These findings challenge widespread assumptions about AI chatbot usage and suggest that the vast majority of users rely on AI tools primarily for work tasks and content creation rather than emotional support or relationships. What you should know: The comprehensive analysis paints a different picture of AI usage than many expected. Just 1.13% of users engaged Claude for coaching purposes, while only 0.05% used it for romantic conversations. The research employed multiple...
read Jun 30, 2025Psychologist exposes adoption assumption and other fallacies in pro-AI education debates
Social psychologist Daniel Stalder argues that pro-AI educators are using flawed rhetorical strategies that may undermine productive discussions about artificial intelligence in education. Writing in Psychology Today, Stalder identifies several logical fallacies commonly employed by AI advocates, including false dichotomies, straw man arguments, and false equivalences that oversimplify the complex challenges facing educators as AI cheating surges. The big picture: As AI-powered cheating becomes increasingly prevalent in schools, the debate between pro-AI and anti-AI educators has intensified, but Stalder suggests that those advocating for AI integration are relying on persuasive but logically flawed arguments that obscure legitimate concerns about assessment...
read Jun 27, 2025Disney’s “Ironheart” reimagines AI through Afrofuturist lens
Disney+'s new Marvel series "Ironheart" features N.A.T.A.L.I.E., an AI assistant created from the consciousness of a Black girl from Chicago, offering a fresh perspective on artificial intelligence representation in popular media. The fictional AI, developed by protagonist Riri Williams, challenges traditional virtual assistant dynamics by incorporating cultural identity and personal relationships into AI design, potentially influencing how audiences think about the future of AI development. What you should know: The series centers on Riri Williams, a young Black engineer who creates an advanced AI for her iron suit after being expelled from MIT. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Neuro Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory...
read Jun 27, 2025Teachers using AI weekly save 6 weeks annually, Gallup finds
A new Gallup poll reveals that 30% of teachers are using AI weekly in their classrooms, with regular users saving approximately six weeks per year on administrative and instructional tasks. The study, conducted by the Walton Foundation alongside Gallup, surveyed over 2,200 K-12 educators and found that teachers are reinvesting this time into more personalized instruction and deeper student engagement, though concerns remain about AI's impact on critical thinking skills. What you should know: The research shows significant time savings for educators who embrace AI tools regularly. Weekly AI users report reclaiming nearly six hours per week, which they reinvest...
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