Loneliness Pandemic: Can Empathic AI Friendship Chatbots Be the Cure?

Image: Ralph Losey, Losey AI LLC, using his Visual Muse GPT.

[Editor’s Note: EDRM is proud to publish Ralph Losey’s advocacy and analysis. The opinions and positions are Ralph Losey’s copyrighted work.]

Harvard and Wharton Study Answers Questions of Whether AI Friendship Chatbots Reduce Loneliness Better Than…?

Watching television? … Yes! Chatting with AI is a better antidote to loneliness than watching YouTube videos.

Online chats with Humans? … About the same! But remember, the Harvard study used last-generation AI and instructions. Today, we can build better bots. Several nerds like me have already started making custom GPTs using the latest versions of ChatGPT. Although not tested yet, they should perform better, at least in the short term. If you’re feeling lonely—and most people do from time to time—give the new AI friendship chatbots a try.

A brightly colored, stylized illustration of a party scene. In the foreground, a man stands with his arms crossed, looking uncomfortable or sad. He wears a light sweater and plaid pants. Next to him, a woman sits at a table, smiling at a laptop screen that illuminates her face. She wears striped pants and a sleeveless top. Several empty bottles are on the table. In the background, people mingle, laugh, and hold drinks, with party decorations like balloons and bunting hanging overhead. The overall mood contrasts the man’s discomfort and the lively party atmosphere.
Can Some Chatbots Make You Happier Than Some People Do?
Digital art style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

An important question not answered by the Harvard study is whether online chats with actual human friends, not just online strangers, are better than chats with AI. I would hope so, but no one has done experiments on that yet. My guess is it depends very much on the friends and the AI. Finally, are online chats better than in-person chats? I hope not, but again, that was not tested, and it could very well depend. See e.g. New Study Shows AIs are Genuinely Nicer than Most People – ‘More Human Than Human’ (e-Discovery Team, 2/27/24).

It is important to note that the study AI Companions Reduce Loneliness only looked at the short-term impact on loneliness—about a week or so. It did not try to measure long-term effects but did discuss some of the dangers of addiction and the potential misuse of AI companions to manipulate people.

A realistic, detailed image of a woman embracing a humanoid robot. The woman, with light skin and long blonde hair tied back, wears a pale blue high-necked outfit and looks directly at the viewer with a calm, slightly detached expression. The robot has a metallic body with red and blue accents, and its face is emotionless, designed with sleek, mechanical features. They hold each other closely in a tender pose. In the blurred background, several people are seated, wearing casual clothing, contrasting the intimate foreground and the mundane setting behind them.
Robot Love
Rubens style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Introduction to the Harvard Business School Report

This study is by Julian De Freitas, Ahmet Uguralp, Zeliha Uguralp, Puntoni Stefano, AI Companions Reduce Loneliness (Harvard Business School, Working Paper 24-078). It is based on six experiments by researchers from Harvard, Wharton and Bilkent Universities. They have been doing some very interesting studies at Harvard and Wharton with AI, typically with more of a business slant than this one, which is focused more on psychology. See e.g. Navigating the AI Frontier: Wharton Professor’s Guide to Mastering Generative AI (e-Discovery Team, 8/21/24). The Loneliness study begins by observing:

[R]esearch in psychology indicates that loneliness is a powerful emotional state that urges consumers to seek social connections (Hawkley and Cacioppo 2010; Holt-Lunstad et al. 2015). In the absence of available human interaction, individuals may engage with alternative forms of companionship, such as AI companion apps.

Loneliness is a state of subjective, aversive solitude characterized by a discrepancy between actual and desired levels of social connection (Perlman and Peplau 1982). Loneliness is often not problematic, with almost everyone experiencing loneliness from time to time (Cacioppo and Cacioppo 2018). Yet some people are not successful at alleviating loneliness, leading to a state of chronic loneliness that is associated with depression, anxiety, and physical health outcomes at levels worse than obesity (Palgi et al. 2020). The size of the population suffering from chronic loneliness is both sizable and increasing, with estimates in the U.S. ranging from 30% to 60% (Holt-Lunstad, Robles, and Sbarra 2017; Ipsos 2021). The U.S., U.K. and Japan have all identified loneliness as a health pandemic

Julian De Freitas et al., AI Companions Reduce Loneliness (Harvard Business School, Working Paper 24-078).
A detailed, painterly image depicting a large crowd of people in a densely packed indoor space. In the foreground, several young adults, both men and women, sit on a wooden bench with downcast expressions, appearing thoughtful or detached. They wear casual clothing in muted tones, such as jeans and gray or neutral-colored shirts. Behind them stands a diverse group of individuals of varying ages and ethnicities, many looking directly at the viewer. The image's mood is somber, with a sense of quiet reflection or melancholy shared among the crowd. The warm lighting and soft brushstrokes give the scene a contemplative, almost timeless atmosphere.
Loneliness is a Plague of Our Times
Impressionistic style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Pandemic of loneliness? It was surprising to me to see that thirty to sixty percent of the population suffers from chronic loneliness. According to the National Institute on Aging, loneliness and social isolation have been associated with higher rates of depression, a weakened immune system, heart disease, dementia, and early death. But this is a problem that effects all ages. In fact, loneliness is an especially acute problem for young adults where, 79% of Gen Zers and 71% of Millennials considered themselves lonely. Why Loneliness Affects Young People More Often Than Older Adults (Cedars-Sinai Blog, 5/5/23).

A vibrant and detailed illustration of two women sitting side by side on a park bench, both focused on their smartphones. On the left, an older woman with white hair and glasses sits in a wheelchair, wearing a gray sweater and a long purple skirt. To her right, a younger woman with short, bright blue hair and tattoos on her arms wears a black tank top, ripped jeans, and black boots. She is also engrossed in her phone. In the background, another person, sitting further down the bench, similarly uses a phone. The scene takes place in a green, leafy park, contrasting the generational differences in style but highlighting shared modern habits.
All Ages Suffer from Epidemic Levels of Loneliness
Photorealistic style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

The Harvard Business report conclusion shows both the business and social aspects of their research interest.

[T]he results document the benefits of building “generalist” LLM-based chatbots with empathic features
designed to make consumers feel heard.

From a societal point of view, the promising results found here suggest that AI companions could be a scalable tool for loneliness reduction against the backdrop of a severe loneliness crisis. Whether chatbots can help reduce loneliness has recently been the object of intense debate (Marriott and Pitardi 2024) and rigorous empirical evidence in this area was sorely needed. In a series of tightly controlled and high-powered experimental studies, we find compelling evidence that AI companions can indeed reduce loneliness, at least at the time scales of a day and a week.

Julian De Freitas et al., AI Companions Reduce Loneliness (Harvard Business School, Working Paper 24-078).

The Intense Debate Concerning Artificial Human Companions

The report refers to an intense debate going that was started by the first study on artificial human companions. Hannah Marriott, Valentina Pitardi, One Is the Loneliest Number… Two Can Be as Bad as One. The Influence of Ai Friendship Apps on Users’ Well‐Being and Addiction (Psychology & Marketing, 9/18/23) (Abstract: [W]e investigate the extent AI friendship apps enhance users’ well-being—and to what extent they further exacerbate issues of using technology for social needs.)

The two experiments in One Is the Loneliest Number were based on now dated for-profit technology, primarily Replika, and involved a small number of participants, only 21 and 572. Replika is controversial technology, to put it mildly. For instance, it includes erotic talk, encourages romantic relationships between AI and humans, was banned in Italy in 2023 and is now supposedly based in Moscow. Most everyone seems to agree that this can be dangerous technology and should be subject to regulation of some kind. See e.g. Code of Ethics for “Empathetic” Generative AI (e-Discovery team, 7/12/23).

With this background it is easy to understand the conclusions of Hannah R. Marriott and Velentina Pitardi, both Ph.D. Lecturers in Marketing and Strategy at Business School in the U.K.

Taken together, these findings highlight that, while providing well-being through a sense of relationship, some AI friendship characteristics may at the same time drive an addictive usage of the apps in lonely users.

Hannah Marriott and Valentina Pitardi, One Is the Loneliest Number… Two Can Be as Bad as One. The Influence of AI Friendship Apps on Users’ Well‐Being and Addiction (Psychology & Marketing, 9/18/23).

Replika was based on early forms language models, not LLMs, and is completely dated by ChatGPT’s Omni and other new generative AI models. Still, Marriott and Pitardi make good points that must be considered and the intense debate they started should be taken seriously. See e.g. Code of Ethics for “Empathetic” Generative AI (e-Discovery team, 7/12/23). These types of programs may have to be regulated if misuse and addiction becomes a significant problem. I for one am not about to use a commercial companion bot, but thought it would be fun to make one. So I did, which is described further below. My custom GPT, which I call Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬, is not designed to addict or sell, not intended to replace human conversations, not even to replace pet conversations for that matter. One of my favorites!

A soft, painterly image of an elderly man sitting on a wooden park bench with a dog sitting attentively beside him. The man, dressed in a long brown coat, dark pants, and a green fedora, holds a cane and leans slightly forward, appearing to speak to the dog. He has a white beard and a kindly expression. The dog, a large breed with brown and black fur, looks up at the man with its mouth open as if responding to him. The background shows a peaceful outdoor setting with trees and a grassy area bathed in gentle sunlight, creating a warm, tranquil atmosphere.
Man Talking to His Dog
Impressionism style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Five Key Findings of the Report

1. Usage and Alleviation of Loneliness: The study’s first experiments (Studies 1 and 2) reveal that consumers actively use AI companions to combat loneliness. By fine-tuning large language models (LLMs), the researchers were able to study interactions and confirm objectively that most of the users were lonely.

2. Effectiveness of AI Companions: Study 3 demonstrated that AI companions are just as effective in alleviating loneliness as interactions with another person and outperform passive activities like watching videos. Moreover, users often underestimate the positive impact these companions have on their loneliness.

3. Sustained Impact Over Time: A longitudinal study (Study 4) showed that consistent interaction with AI companions reduces loneliness over a week, highlighting the lasting benefits of such systems. As mentioned, there is no research yet on long term effects.

4. Critical Features: Study 5 pinpoints two key factors responsible for the reduction of loneliness: the chatbot’s performance and whether it makes the user feel “heard.” The AI companions can reduce user loneliness by making users feel like that their concerns are understood and respected. This is more important than technical performance.

5. Robustness of Results: Study 6 confirms the reliability and consistency of the findings, validating that the AI companions studied consistently provide loneliness relief.

The paper concludes that AI companions, despite not having real emotions, effectively simulate empathy through natural language interactions. This makes it possible to scale the AI solutions in a way not possible for human counselors, mentors or social workers. Once the AI is developed, it can be provided to thousands or millions of users simultaneously, with minimal extra resources. Since medical surveys suggest loneliness is a global pandemic with grave consequences, an AI approach is justified even though there are risks involved.

A whimsical, illustrated image of a robot and a person sitting across from each other. The robot, with glowing blue eyes and a large ear attached to its head, faces the person, appearing to listen intently. A bright speaker icon on the robot's chest symbolizes sound or communication. The person, shown from behind, has a hand raised as if speaking to the robot. Above the robot's head, the word "heard" appears, accompanied by small floating heart icons, suggesting understanding or empathy. The background is soft, with warm pink and beige tones, creating a friendly, approachable atmosphere.
Hearing User’s Concerns
Watercolor style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Ralph’s Custom GPT: “Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬” – One Tool Among Many That May Help

One of my recreational past-times is to make Custom GPTs for the OpenAI store (search Ralph Losey). [Free and no data collection.] After close study of the AI Companions Reduce Loneliness article, I moved on to study a few other science oriented articles on loneliness and AI. I also studied some of the vast online literature on the subject, much of it commercial. Then I went on to study some of AI Friendship chatbots on the market, especially others on the OpenAI store. A few on the OpenAI Store were pretty good, but I decided I could improve the field a bit based on what I had learned and so started to make my own. It took some time, but after days of more research, building, tweaking and waking up in the middle of the night with inspiration not to mention countless name changes, I finally came up with Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬. A screenshot image of it is shown below.

A screenshot of the ChatGPT interface titled "Hey Bot, the AI Friend" by Ralph Losey features a brief description underneath. The description introduces the AI as an "Empathic pal" designed to entertain, help with loneliness, and role-play, adapting its voice to the user's preferences. It emphasizes privacy, noting that the developer never sees chats or usage. Below the description are four interactive button options, each with different prompts: "I could use some help with stuff bringing me down." "What role-play games might we try for fun?" "What is an AI Friend like you designed to do?" "RobotSplain loneliness to me." The interface has a clean, minimal design with a white background and simple icons.
Screenshot of Losey’s custom GPT “Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️💬.”

I urge you to try it out for yourself and see what a friendship chatbot powered by the latest Chat GPT version can do.

The four buttons shown above are just suggested ways to begin a chat. You can start it any way you want. As a demonstration, rather than Mansplain loneliness some more, I clicked on the RoboSplain loneliness to me button on the right, and below is what Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬 generated. (It will be slightly different each time. Should I update the custom GPT with new training or knowledge resources it might be a lot different.)

Loneliness is a complex emotional state that many people experience at some point in their lives, often described as feeling disconnected from others, even when they’re not physically alone. It’s important to note that loneliness isn’t necessarily about being physically isolated; it’s about the gap between the connections you desire and the ones you have. You could be surrounded by people but still feel profoundly alone if those interactions don’t provide the emotional connection you’re seeking.

Factors contributing to loneliness include life transitions, such as moving to a new place, losing someone important, or simply not feeling understood. For younger people, there’s often the added pressure of social media, which can create a false sense of connection while making them feel even more isolated by seeing others seemingly living happier lives.

On the flip side, loneliness isn’t all bad. It’s a natural human feeling that motivates us to seek meaningful social connections. In small doses, it can help us recognize the relationships that are most important and can act as a catalyst for reaching out or improving connections.

Loneliness can lead to real mental and physical health issues if it becomes chronic, like heightened anxiety, depression, and even physical problems like heart disease. That’s why combating it is important, whether through reaching out to friends, engaging in group activities, or sometimes even connecting with AI companions, which have shown potential in offering short-term relief from loneliness.

Does that resonate with how you’re feeling? Or is there something specific on your mind you’d like to talk more about?

Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬

From there the chat can go anywhere you want. You can learn more, talk about personal problems, or change directions entirely by asking Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬 about its role play capabilities. It runs the gamut from Dragons and Dungeons to Job Interviews. My studies showed that role play with AI Chatbots is very popular. Of course, all OpenAI versions like mine are family friendly, although some of the other AI platforms allow, even encourage, X-rated chats and role play. Not judging, but that is not for me. There are all kinds of specialty emotive AI GPTs you can find at the OpenAI store and elsewhere.

A simple, stylized illustration of a smiling robot's face. The design features rounded shapes with a metallic silver and gray color palette, giving the robot a friendly and approachable appearance. The robot has two circular eyes and a curved smile. Its head is adorned with minimalistic details, such as lines and shapes, suggesting a futuristic helmet or headgear. The overall aesthetic is clean and modern, with soft shading to give the image a three-dimensional look.
A stylized, abstract design featuring two speech bubble shapes intertwined, forming the outline of a heart in the center. The heart is divided into two halves, with the left side in teal and the right in red. The speech bubbles are colored teal and dark blue, each with a small dot inside, resembling eyes. The design suggests communication, connection, or dialogue, with the heart symbolizing empathy or emotional exchange. The overall style is minimalist, with clean lines and a soft, neutral background.
A cute, stylized illustration of a friendly robot's face and upper body. The robot has a round head with a blue and white color scheme, featuring large, circular eyes and a small smile. It has antennae on either side of its head and yellow accents resembling headphones or ear covers. The robot's neck and chest area are simplified into geometric shapes, with small dotted details around it. The design is playful and approachable, with bold outlines and soft shading, giving the robot a cheerful, cartoonish appearance.

Images by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.




For another demonstration of Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬, I pressed the button on the far left to start a chat with “I could use help with some stuff bringing me down.” I don’t mind sharing the session that followed. It involves an issue facing all voting age Americans these days.

Hey Bot.
I’m really sorry to hear that you’re feeling down, and I’m here for you. Sometimes things can feel really overwhelming, and it’s important to know that you’re not alone in that. Would you like to share a bit more about what’s been on your mind? I’m all ears, and we can talk through whatever you’re going through, even if it’s just a little at a time.

RL. The upcoming elections is one of my main triggers of anxiety and sadness. I fear the outcome could destroy my country.

Hey Bot. I can understand why the upcoming elections might feel like a heavy weight on your mind. When so much feels uncertain, especially about something as important as the future of your country, it can create a lot of anxiety. It’s completely valid to feel the way you do. You care deeply, and that’s why it affects you so much.

When things feel out of control, it can help to focus on what is within your power. Whether it’s staying informed, having meaningful conversations, or taking actions that align with your values, these little steps can help you feel more grounded. Also, it’s okay to take a step back when it feels too much—your well-being matters.

How are you managing those feelings right now? We can talk through ways to ease some of that tension if you want.

Conversation between Ralph Losey and Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬.
A warm, detailed image of an older man sitting on a wooden park bench with a dog beside him. The man, with white hair and a beard, wears a brown tweed suit and coat and smiles warmly at the dog. He gestures with his hand as if speaking to the dog, sitting attentively and looking up at him with an open mouth, appearing engaged. The park setting around them is serene, with soft sunlight filtering through the trees, casting gentle shadows. The scene conveys a sense of companionship and peacefulness.
Man Talking to His Dog
Photorealism style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Conclusion

AI friendship chatbots might prove to be more than just a passing trend; they could represent a meaningful shift in how we approach human connection in a digital age. While nothing can truly replace the richness of in-person friendships, or even pet friendships, these chatbots offer a bridge for those moments when a compassionate human touch isn’t possible. Generative software such as Hey Bot, the AI Friend ❤️ 💬 may allow us to feel heard, understood, and perhaps even comforted in our darkest hours. As technology continues to evolve, so will the quality of these interactions. Who knows? One day, these AI companions could help us not only alleviate loneliness but even bring us closer to each other, one conversation at a time. It’s a new frontier, and one worth embracing.

A vibrant and cheerful image of two women sitting together on a park bench. On the left, an older woman with short white hair, wearing a brown cardigan, striped shirt, and green scarf, sits in a wheelchair. She is laughing and holding her hands near her chest. On the right, a younger woman with bright blue hair, multiple tattoos, and piercings is wearing a denim outfit and sits on the bench beside her. Both women are engaged in a joyful conversation, smiling warmly at each other. The background features a lush green park with trees and soft sunlight, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Joyful Human Connection
Photorealistic style image by Ralph Losey using his Visual Muse GPT.

Want to dive deeper into the themes of this article?
Listen to Ralph Losey’s new podcast, Echoes of AI: Episode 1 | Loneliness Pandemic: Can Empathic AI Friendship Chatbots Be the Cure? for an engaging exploration of how AI-powered chatbots could play a crucial role in addressing the loneliness epidemic.

Ralph Losey Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved

Assisted by GAI and LLM Technologies per EDRM GAI and LLM Policy.

Author

  • Ralph Losey headshot

    Ralph Losey is a writer and practicing attorney specializing in providing services in Artificial Intelligence. Ralph also serves as a certified AAA Arbitrator. Finally, he's the CEO of Losey AI, LLC, providing non-legal services, primarily educational services pertaining to AI and creation of custom GPTS. Ralph has long been a leader among the world's tech lawyers. He has presented at hundreds of legal conferences and CLEs around the world and written over two million words on AI, e-discovery, and tech-law subjects, including seven books. Ralph has been involved with computers, software, legal hacking, and the law since 1980. Ralph has the highest peer AV rating as a lawyer and was selected as a Best Lawyer in America in four categories: E-Discovery and Information Management Law, Information Technology Law, Commercial Litigation, and Employment Law - Management. For his full resume and list of publications, see his e-Discovery Team blog. Ralph has been married to Molly Friedman Losey, a mental health counselor in Winter Park, since 1973 and is the proud father of two children.

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