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Friends with uncertain benefits: Lonely Americans seek solace in chatbots
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The AI-powered solution to loneliness is alluring – cheap, on call and convincing.
PHOTO: PEXELS
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WASHINGTON – Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots will chip in to satisfy the all-too-human need for comfort this festive season, when the loneliness epidemic in the United States becomes more acute.
On Dec 5, US Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy launched a campaign inviting Americans to pick five actions over five days in a row to connect with people in their lives – simple things like express gratitude, ask for help and offer help.
