AI Overuse in Social Connections Warned by Health Expert

# Society # SXSW

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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