AI Overuse in Social Connections Warned by Health Expert

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April 10, 2025

DanielWalker

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# Society # SXSW

AI Overuse in Social Connections Warned by Health Expert

With the increasing popularity of AI companions that act as online friends or romantic partners, experts are raising concerns about how this technology might influence our real-life social interactions and relationships. Kasley Killam, who wrote "The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health Is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier," believes there could be some advantages to using AI to practice social skills. However, she stresses that AI should only enhance, not take the place of, our real-world relationships and connections. During a panel discussion at the SXSW conference in Austin on Friday, the social health expert and Harvard School of Public Health graduate expressed doubts about AI's ability to boost people's social skills. She pointed out that AI companies often promote their AI companions as a way for individuals to hone their conversation and social skills for real-world use. "That may be true," she acknowledged, but cautioned that such practice shouldn't substitute for actual human interactions. "I want to live in a society where people feel at ease and have chances to practice these skills in person—like if we're teaching this in schools and doing it in real time, then it just becomes part of our toolkit for navigating life," Killam explained. While researching her book, Killam discovered that "hundreds of millions" of people were already using AI as a "friend, lover, husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend." Recent data from Appfigures, an app intelligence provider, showed that AI companion mobile apps experienced a 652% year-over-year revenue increase in 2024, generating $55 million in consumer spending. The U.S. led the market, making up 30.5% of the total consumer spending on these apps last year. "I have mixed feelings about this," Killam admitted. "On one hand, I'm worried. I'm concerned that we've created a culture where people feel they need to rely on AI for companionship. That's troubling. On the other hand, if it's in addition to our in-person relationships... maybe that can be beneficial." Killam acknowledged that AI chatbots like ChatGPT could be helpful at times, but she advised that these tools should be part of a broader "portfolio" of social health, not a substitute for genuine relationships. "One of the core principles of social health is having diverse sources, meaning not just one. You don't just hang out with your romantic partner and no one else. You have friends, you chat with co-workers, you talk to the barista, and other people. And so if AI is one of those sources, I'm okay with that." "The issue arises when it becomes the only or one of the main sources." Killam also discussed other ways technology impacts social health, such as its role in the loneliness epidemic, our culture of constant "busyness," and how people now often spend their time scrolling through social media or consuming media to pass the time instead of engaging with others. She suggested that during downtime, people might consider calling or texting a friend rather than immediately turning to technology for entertainment.

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Comments (21)

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RaymondNelson

July 14, 2026 at 2:00:15 AM EDT

I get the appeal of AI companions, but honestly, it's a bit creepy how fast we're outsourcing emotional connection to algorithms. Like, are we really that desperate to avoid awkward real-life conversations? 😅

NicholasWalker

September 8, 2025 at 2:30:41 AM EDT

AI伴侶越來越流行，但專家警告可能影響真實人際關係。我覺得偶爾使用還行，但完全依賴真的不太健康...還是要多跟真人互動啦！😅

StephenRamirez

August 25, 2025 at 1:33:49 AM EDT

This article really got me thinking—AI companions sound cool, but could they make us forget how to connect IRL? I’m kinda worried we’ll all end up with robot BFFs instead of real ones 😅.

StephenScott

August 12, 2025 at 2:50:10 AM EDT

AI friends sound cool, but are we just trading real hugs for digital hearts? 🥺 Kinda worried this could make us lonelier in the long run.

OliviaJones

August 4, 2025 at 9:00:59 AM EDT

This article really got me thinking about how much we're leaning on AI for companionship. It's cool but kinda scary how it might mess with our real-world friendships. Anyone else feel like we're outsourcing our emotions? 🤔

DavidLewis

July 23, 2025 at 12:59:29 AM EDT

This article really got me thinking about how much we rely on AI for companionship nowadays. It’s kinda wild that we’re turning to bots for emotional support instead of real people—makes you wonder if we’re forgetting how to connect IRL! 😅