Artificial Intimacy: When Machines Pursue Our Attachment (with Sherry Turkle)

About this episode

Sherry Turkle is a professor of sociology and personality psychology at MIT. She joins the podcast to discuss artificial intimacy and the psychological impact of emotional attachment to AI chatbots. We examine why people turn to machines for empathy and companionship, how conversational agents exploit human vulnerabilities, and the specific risks for children and the elderly. Turkle also explains the importance of solitude, boredom, and vulnerability, emphasizing why society must invest in physical communities to reclaim human connection. LINKS: • Sherry Turkle Official Website • Sherry Turkle Author Biography CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:10) Defining artificial intimacy (10:12) Protecting vulnerable populations (21:40) Intimacy requires vulnerability (33:12) Dangers of AI therapy (45:44) Embracing solitude and boredom (56:47) Reclaiming the real world PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3F