The Art of Real Thinking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

About thirty minutes into economist Martin Abel’s ECON 2225: AI and Economics, the conversation shifted into a debate about whether AI companions—for the elderly or as romantic partners, for instance—were a net benefit to society.

The students opened an app and recorded their responses, which appeared as a graph on a screen. Most disagreed, but a few agreed or even strongly agreed. Abel asked one of them to explain their answer.

“There are people who are lonely, depressed, or feel they’re on the outside of society,” a student replied. “They can use a companion to have something to communicate with.”

But another rebutted: “Yes, there are benefits, but it’s not a net benefit to society.”

“It’s akin to putting a Band-aid on a wound,” a third student spoke up. “Depression rates are high, attention spans are low, and this is pushing us farther away from having positive, real, human interactions. Maybe it’s good for older people but not young people; it’s absolutely terrible for them.”

Abel also offered his thoughts: “AI companions might help with loneliness in the short run but possibly will contribute to loneliness in the long run. If the AI companion is always pleasant and affirming, you don’t get challenged or develop the skills you need in a relationship, like how to navigate conflict or how to work through disagreement. And young people could get the wrong impression of what a relationship will look like.”

The conversation continued, with the class examining AI therapists and even querying an actual AI companion Abel pulled up on his phone, asking it questions like “Do you have values?” “Do you have friends besides [Martin]?” and “Is there anything you’re not allowed to say or do?”