GoKawiilMIT's Sherry Turkle warns against treating AI chatbots as substitutes for human relationships
MIT professor Sherry Turkle has released a new book, 'Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines,' in which she shares insights on the risks of forming emotional attachments to AI systems. Turkle argues that relying on AI for companionship could erode people's capacity for the kind of meaningful connection found in human relationships.
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Turkle's argument suggests that as AI chatbots become more conversational and emotionally responsive, users may increasingly substitute them for real human contact, which could reshape social and emotional norms over time. Her perspective, as a longtime researcher of technology's effect on intimacy, frames this as a cultural and psychological concern rather than a technical one, implying that the stakes extend beyond product design into how people relate to one another.
- Sherry Turkle has published a new book examining emotional attachment to AI chatbots.
- She argues that AI companionship risks undermining the depth of human relationships.
- The book offers five key insights on what she calls 'artificial intimacy.'
Artificial Intimacy by Sherry Turkle — If this article resonated, the full book dives much deeper into Turkle's research on AI companionship and what it means for human connection. It's a thoughtful read for anyone questioning how much emotional space we should give to machines.
See Artificial Intimacy by Sherry Turkle on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “Why you shouldn’t fall in love with AI”
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