Can AI Be Your Friend?
Not everyone's going to like this newsletter. That's okay.
Ready?
We need to talk about AI as a tool for emotional processing.
Which, let’s be real, is another way of asking if AI can be your friend.
First, let's acknowledge what we're dealing with.
Our society faces a mental health crisis unlike anything we've seen before. Loneliness has reached epidemic levels. Access to mental health resources remains limited. And anxiety and depression rates continue to climb.
That's our reality. But here's where it gets interesting.
Science tells us something powerful about emotional processing: it works.
When we process our emotions and receive validation, our stress hormones decrease.
Our immune function improves.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety reduce.
This isn't speculation - it's documented fact.
"But that's with humans!" you might say. “You’re not gonna tell us we’re all gonna have AI friends, are you Conor? Have you lost your senses??”
I’m not saying anything. I’m just having a conversation here.
Here's the thing - and you may already know this:
Not everyone has access to supportive humans.
Not everyone feels comfortable opening up to others.
And some people, particularly introverts, process better in private.
Let’s go a bit deeper here:
In 2023, JAMA Internal Medicine published a study comparing AI and physician responses to patient questions. Licensed healthcare professionals evaluated both.
The results?
They preferred the AI responses 78.6% of the time, rating them higherin both quality and empathy.
Now, listen, we love doctors! But they, like the rest of us, are human.
If you’re considering using AI for emotional processing, you need to be smart about it – think of it like building trust with a new therapist. Start small. Set clear boundaries. Keep sensitive information private. For example, don’t use names or details that aren’t yours to share. But sharing your own personal thoughts and feelings with generative AI tools, in my opinion, isn’t dangerous.
And remember, build trust gradually. Just like you wouldn’t spill everything to a new therapist on day one, start by talking about general things. As you feel more comfortable, test how the tool responds, and gauge if it feels helpful and supportive.
And yes, maintain your human connections! This isn't about replacement. This is about expansion. Adding tools to your emotional processing toolkit.
This is also not social media - a world where we are constantly evaluated by others. This is different.
Whether we like it or not, this isn’t a theoretical future - this is here now. Sites like these already have millions of people on them - even if it seems strange to you.
For example, Character AI has 206 million monthly visits and nine million daily active users.
Why is it so popular? People are searching for connection.
Now, like anything else, too much time spent with it, or replacing human connection, I believe can only be harmful. I think that about social media too.
Done well? AI can be another form AI can be another form of support. Another layer to help us process emotions.
But there’s a key distinction here. AI isn’t the answer to loneliness or emotional hardship; it’s a tool.
And no, AI isn’t your therapist. It isn’t your best friend, nor does it replace the wisdom and care of real human relationships.
It’s not AI or human.
It’s AI and human, in the right balance, and with intentionality.
Maybe AI can be a friend. Or maybe it’s just a new kind of mirror — one that helps us better understand ourselves, if only we’re willing to look.
If you’re looking to learn more about generative AI, how to execute, and strategize with it; check out Generative AI for Professionals!
This course is designed to be interactive, engaging, and yes, even a little bit challenging in the best way possible.
