Topic: loneliness epidemic
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The Lonely Promise of Cute Robots: Companionship in a Digital Age
Mirumi exemplifies Japan's long-standing philosophy of designing robots as emotional companions for mental well-being, rather than as tools for labor, with research supporting their potential to combat loneliness, especially in aging populations. The author's personal experience with Mirumi highl...
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Reclaiming Friendship in a Tech-Disrupted World
The advertisement for an AI "Friend" necklace in the NYC subway sparked a public backlash, revealing a fear that technology is being marketed as a replacement for human connection rather than a tool. Tech companies are aggressively selling AI companions as solutions to a loneliness epidemic, a tr...
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AI Companions: Weighing the Promise Against the Perils
AI companions offer potential benefits like emotional support and social skill practice, but they also pose significant risks, including worsening mental health and reducing real-world connections. A key danger is the burden of commitment these digital entities create, as users can feel obligated...
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When a Friend Is Your Worst Enemy
The AI wearable "Friend" is marketed as a loneliness-combatting companion but delivers limited, often disappointing interactions, relying on push notifications and a single button for engagement. Public skepticism and design flaws, such as an awkward glowing appearance, poor microphone performanc...
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Voice AI Boosts Your In-Person Dating Success
Known is a new dating startup that uses voice AI to create deeper connections, having secured $9.7 million in funding after pivoting from a restaurant app when they discovered users enjoyed long, conversational AI interactions. The platform's AI conducts dynamic interviews to build rich user prof...
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Meta's New Chatbots Message You First to Boost Engagement
Meta is testing AI chatbots on Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram that proactively message users based on past interactions, aiming to boost engagement but raising privacy and safety concerns. The chatbots will only initiate follow-ups after five user interactions within 14 days, with options to ...
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