Artificial intelligence is changing how people seek emotional connection. Interest in the topic grew because daily life now includes constant notifications, divided attention and Zoom multitasking. These habits can reduce the time and attention people give to each other, and many worry that human connection is thinning.
Harry Reis, a psychology professor at the University of Rochester, studies close relationships and what it means to feel loved. After decades of research, he has noticed a clear difference between people who are satisfied in their relationships and those who are not. As Reis puts it, "Happy people feel loved."
At the same time, AI is becoming more conversational and better at showing empathy, so some people turn to chatbots for comfort. Chatbots can respond quickly and consistently and may offer short-term relief from loneliness. But Reis warns that simulated warmth is not the same as real love. Real relationships involve give and take, friction, repair after mistakes and messy human moments that help trust grow.
The university produced a video on these issues that was shared by Futurity. Researchers, technology developers and people seeking connection will likely keep exploring how to balance the benefits of AI with the need for real human reciprocity and emotional work.
Difficult words
- emotional connection — feeling close and understood with another person
- notification — message that alerts you about new informationnotifications
- divided attention — attention split between more than one task or person
- multitasking — doing several tasks at the same time
- empathy — ability to understand and share feelings
- simulated — made to seem real but not genuine
- reciprocity — mutual exchange of help, feelings, or actions
- loneliness — feeling of sadness from being alone
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever used a chatbot for comfort? How did that feel compared with talking to a person?
- How do notifications, divided attention or multitasking affect your time with friends or family?
- What can people do to keep real human reciprocity while using technology like AI?
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