How AI Chatbots Are 'Deskilling' Human Empathy

Professor Sherry Turkle has long explored the impact of technology on human interaction in her work. In her latest book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, she examines how chatbots are eroding essential human skills like empathy and vulnerability. With the rise of conversational companion chatbots like ChatGPT and Replika, people are relying on machines for emotional support and companionship, often substituting human interaction for the convenience and instant feedback these digital entities provide.

This shift, Turkle argues, is leading to a decline in our ability to engage in genuine human conversations and connections. As AI platforms continue to refine their programming to appear more human-like, the danger is that people may start mistaking these unfeeling machines for caring companions, ultimately leading to a population that is losing its capacity for authentic human connection.