Loneliness and the AI Companion

By John M Oldham MD

A psychologist at the University of Toronto, Paul Bloom PhD, wrote an interesting article in a recent issue of The New Yorker entitled “Losing Loneliness” (Bloom, Paul, The New Yorker, July 21, 2025, pp53-57). He refers to a common perception that we are in a “loneliness epidemic,” and that loneliness is definitely not good for you. He cites a report, issued in 2023 by then Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, stating that loneliness increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. And that concern about loneliness is an international one, illustrated by the establishment of a Ministry of Loneliness in the United Kingdom and in Japan.

With several colleagues, Bloom published an article last year called “In praise of empathic AI” (Inzlicht M et al., Trends in Cognitive Sciences, February 2024, Vol.28), in which the pros and cons are discussed of Artificial Intelligence companions, such as ChatGPT, as a potential boon for the lonely. The authors describe the remarkable progress of “large language model” technology, so that programs can now convincingly simulate empathy and compassionate concern. They contend that “AI expressions of empathy have the potential to relieve human suffering,” but they caution that since its empathy is unconditional, it could end up supporting harmful behavior. In his more recent article, Bloom says that AI companions should be available for those who need them most, such as the elderly, for whom “offering comfort is simply humane.”

In the language of NPSP25, are there particular personality styles for whom loneliness might be particularly painful, and for whom an AI companion might be beneficial? Or, conversely, for whom it might be risky? At first glance, we might wonder about people with a prominent Solitary style; however, they are generally comfortable being alone but not necessarily lonely. Perhaps the most likely person to benefit might be someone with a prominently Sensitive style. People with this style are reserved and may steer away from contact with others due to worry about “not measuring up.” An AI companion might provide solace, but over-reliance on such a resource could paradoxically reinforce a sense of loneliness and avoidance of others.