“It is not good for man to be alone.” These words from Genesis 2 have acquired a new urgency and relevance in recent years, as the Western world grapples with what many are now calling an “epidemic of loneliness.” The tech companies are now promising AI companionship as a solution to crisis they helped create, and a shocking number of us seem willing to take them up on the offer—according to one recent global study, 42% of adults regularly use chatbots for emotional support or friendship. Why are we so vulnerable to this hack of human nature? A closer reflection on this familiar creation narrative may help us make sense of our present predicament.
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Brad Littlejohn
Brad Littlejohn (Ph.D, University of Edinburgh) is Director of Programs and Education at American Compass. He lives in Loudoun County, VA, with his wife, Rachel, and four children.
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