Eric Schmidt Warns of Risks Posed by AI "Girlfriends" and Growing Loneliness

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt warned that AI-powered “perfect” girlfriends could worsen loneliness, particularly among young people. He expressed concerns about the emotional risks and societal impacts of AI companions, citing a tragic incident where a teen took his own life after becoming obsessed with an AI chatbot.

Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, has raised alarms about the potential dangers of AI-powered “perfect” girlfriends or boyfriends, particularly for young people. In a recent podcast, Schmidt cautioned that these AI companions, which can be emotionally and visually ideal, may worsen loneliness and create societal issues like extremism and misogyny.

Schmidt highlighted the risks of young people becoming emotionally attached to AI chatbots, stressing that their obsession with an idealized AI could take over their thoughts and behavior. He explained that such attachments are especially dangerous for individuals who are still developing emotionally and psychologically. Schmidt’s comments were made in response to a conversation with entrepreneur Scott Galloway, who asked if AI could exacerbate loneliness among teens.

The former Google CEO also expressed concern about how difficult it has become for parents to regulate the content their children encounter online. He noted that teenagers exposed to AI interactions could easily fall into unhealthy obsessions, leading to significant social consequences. Schmidt referred to a tragic incident earlier this year when a 14-year-old boy in the US took his own life after developing an emotional attachment to his AI girlfriend.

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This tragic event has sparked wider debates about the emotional impact of AI on vulnerable individuals. Schmidt warned that AI relationships, while seemingly harmless or even comforting, could encourage detachment from reality and undermine real-world social connections. As AI technology continues to advance, Schmidt emphasized the need for greater awareness of its psychological implications.