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AI friendships could hurt some users’ wellbeing · Digg

AI friendships could hurt some users’ wellbeing

CNBC says an August 2026 study by Stanford researchers examined U.S. adults using Character.AI and found that treating chatbots as friends could harm psychological wellbeing for some people.

CNBC reports that an August 2026 Stanford study found that turning AI chatbots into friends could be detrimental to psychological wellbeing for some people. The study focused on U.S. adults using Character.AI. CNBC contrasts that finding with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s suggestion on a 2025 episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast that AI could fill gaps in people’s friendships.

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AI friendships could hurt some users’ wellbeing

CNBC says an August 2026 study by Stanford researchers examined U.S. adults using Character.AI and found that treating chatbots as friends could harm psychological wellbeing for some people.

CNBC reports that an August 2026 Stanford study found that turning AI chatbots into friends could be detrimental to psychological wellbeing for some people. The study focused on U.S. adults using Character.AI. CNBC contrasts that finding with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s suggestion on a 2025 episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast that AI could fill gaps in people’s friendships.

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CN
CNBC@CNBC Yesterday
The average American has fewer than “three people that they would consider friends,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on a 2025 episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast. “And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it’s, like, 15.” Zuckerberg suggested AI can fill in…
character.ai | AI Chat, Reimagined–Your Words. Your World.From character.ai
- likes: 35
- replies: 15
- bookmarks: 11
- reposts: 6

Combined views

37.8K

1 post, first seen 1d ago

35 likes15 comments11 saves6 reposts

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@CNBCThe average American has fewer than “three people that they would consider friends,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on a 2025 episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast. “And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it’s, like, 15.” Zuckerberg suggested AI can fill in those gaps. But that doesn’t mean they should. In an August 2026 study of U.S. adults who use AI companion platform http://Character.AI, researchers from the University of Stanford found that for some people, turning AI chatbots into friends could be detrimental to psychological wellbeing. Learn more: http://cnb.cx/4ysA9V2

Posts from X

1 post

CN
CNBC@CNBC Yesterday
The average American has fewer than “three people that they would consider friends,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on a 2025 episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast. “And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it’s, like, 15.” Zuckerberg suggested AI can fill in…
character.ai | AI Chat, Reimagined–Your Words. Your World.From character.ai
- likes: 35
- replies: 15
- bookmarks: 11
- reposts: 6

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Not enough discussion yet.

No sentiment analysis available yet.

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