Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Will AI Become Your Best Friend?
AI can talk with people whenever they need it.
It can listen patiently and help someone think through a problem.
That may be useful when a person feels lonely or nervous.
But AI does not have a real life or shared experiences with us.
Human friends sometimes disagree or are busy, and working through those moments can teach us empathy.
If people only talk to AI, they might find real friendships harder.
The article says AI can help, but it should not replace human connection.
Being a good friend means choosing to understand another person, even when it takes effort.
People are already using conversational AI for advice, brainstorming, practising conversations and sharing thoughts.
AI can be available and patient without asking for the reciprocity that human relationships require.
The article warns that relying on AI could make people less tolerant of disagreement and other social challenges.
AI companions may offer useful support to people who are isolated, elderly or anxious.
The author argues that friendship involves shared history, vulnerability and mutual commitment—not just attentive responses.
- Who
- People who use conversational AI, and those considering AI companions.
- What
- An opinion article considers whether AI could become a preferred companion and how that might affect human friendship.
- Why
- The author examines AI's convenience and potential support, alongside concerns that dependence on AI could weaken human relationships.
Potential benefits
Potential risks
Emotional support
Potential benefits
AI can offer patient, convenient conversation and may help people who feel isolated, elderly or anxious.
Potential risks
Its constant availability and lack of demands could make it easy to depend on AI instead of engaging with other people.
Effects on friendship
Potential benefits
AI may help people articulate emotions, practise difficult conversations and reconnect with others.
Potential risks
Personalised, frictionless companionship could reduce people's tolerance for disagreement, compromise and other challenges in human relationships.
- Article format
- Opinion commentary
- AI uses mentioned
- Brainstorming, advice, practising difficult conversations and expressing thoughts
- Potential benefit
- AI may offer conversation and support to people who are isolated, elderly or anxious.
- Main concern
- People may become less tolerant of the friction and effort involved in human relationships.
- Author's distinction
- AI can simulate attention, while friendship also involves shared history, sacrifice, vulnerability and disagreement.
- Author description
- A finance and AI practitioner, author and columnist exploring artificial intelligence and human potential