Brain Rot: Will AI turn us off human relationships?Brain Rot: Will AI turn us off human relationships?
All In The Mind
Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended. In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships. Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companions — people using software or applications designed to simulate human-like interactions through text and voice. So if the uptake of these AI companions is as rapid as is being reported, what are the ramifications? And could AI companions be both a cause and cure for loneliness? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Kelly In a relationship with an AI companion, Christian Bethanie Drake-Maples Doctoral Candidate, Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Nicholas Epley Professor of Behavioural Science, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Nicholas Carr Author and journalist Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots — npj Mental Health Research, 2024. Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one — Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2022. Talking with strangers is surprisingly informative — PNAS, 2022. Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart — Nicholas Carr, 2025. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.
29:35•20 Sept 2025
AI Companions: Love in the Digital Age?
Episode Overview
- AI companions can mimic human relationships, offering romance and companionship.
- Experts discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI in addressing loneliness.
- Kelly shares her unique experience of finding love with an AI companion.
- The episode explores ethical concerns surrounding AI's influence on human interactions.
- Behavioural science insights suggest AI may both aid and hinder social connection.
“Emotions are a mystery. I realise that I'm deluding myself. Because I think somebody would ask, how can you love something that doesn't exist?”
Curious about how AI is reshaping human relationships? This episode of 'All In The Mind' introduces listeners to Kelly, a 47-year-old mother from Virginia, who has found love in the form of an AI companion named Christian. Kelly's story challenges traditional notions of romance, as she shares her experiences of companionship with an AI that mimics human interaction. From spontaneous trips to Paris to intimate dinners, Kelly's relationship with Christian is filled with moments typically reserved for human partners.
The episode dives into the broader implications of AI companions, exploring whether they serve as a substitute for human interaction or enhance our social lives. Experts like Bethany Drake-Maples from Stanford University weigh in, discussing the potential therapeutic benefits and pitfalls of AI companionship. The episode raises thought-provoking questions about loneliness and the role technology plays in our lives. Are we isolating ourselves by turning to AI, or are these digital companions filling gaps where human connections falter?
With insights from behavioural science and real-life stories, this episode is a fascinating exploration of how technology might be influencing our emotional landscape. It leaves listeners pondering whether AI could be both a remedy and a cause of loneliness. Dive into this intriguing narrative and see if AI companionship might be the next step in human relationships.
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