Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
[This episode originally aired on August 17, 2023] For all the talk about AI, we rarely hear about how it will change our relationships. As we swipe to find love and consult chatbot therapists, acclaimed psychotherapist and relationship expert Esther Perel warns that there’s another harmful “AI” on the rise — Artificial Intimacy — and how it is depriving us of real connection. Tristan and Esther discuss how depending on algorithms can fuel alienation, and then imagine how we might design technology to strengthen our social bonds.
RECOMMENDED MEDIA
Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel (estherperel.com/books)
Esther's debut work on the intricacies behind modern relationships, and the dichotomy of domesticity and sexual desire
The State of Affairs by Esther Perel (estherperel.com/books)
Esther takes a look at modern relationships through the lens of infidelity
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel (estherperel.com/podcast)
Listen in as real couples in search of help bare the raw and profound details of their stories
How’s Work? with Esther Perel (podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/hows-work-with-esther-perel/id1497580407)
Esther’s podcast that focuses on the hard conversations we're afraid to have at work
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) (imdb.com/title/tt0805564/)
A young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the internet
Her (2013) (imdb.com/title/tt1798709/)
In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need
RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODES
Big Food, Big Tech and Big AI with Michael Moss (humanetech.com/podcast/big-food-big-tech-and-big-ai-with-michael-moss)
The AI Dilemma (humanetech.com/podcast/the-ai-dilemma)
The Three Rules of Humane Tech (humanetech.com/podcast/the-three-rules-of-humane-tech)
Digital Democracy is Within Reach with Audrey Tang (humanetech.com/podcast/23-digital-democracy-is-within-reach)
CORRECTION: Esther refers to the 2007 film Lars and the Real Doll. The title of the film is Lars and the Real Girl.
Your Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology (humanetech.com/) . Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_ (twitter.com/humanetech_)
[This episode originally aired on August 17, 2023] For all the talk about AI, we rarely hear about how it will change our relationships. As we swipe to find love and consult chatbot therapists, acclaimed psychotherapist and relationship expert Esther Perel warns that there’s another harmful “AI” on the rise — Artificial Intimacy — and how it is depriving us of real connection. Tristan and Esther discuss how depending on algorithms can fuel alienation, and then imagine how we might design technology to strengthen our social bonds.
RECOMMENDED MEDIA
Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel (estherperel.com/books)
Esther's debut work on the intricacies behind modern relationships, and the dichotomy of domesticity and sexual desire
The State of Affairs by Esther Perel (estherperel.com/books)
Esther takes a look at modern relationships through the lens of infidelity
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel (estherperel.com/podcast)
Listen in as real couples in search of help bare the raw and profound details of their stories
How’s Work? with Esther Perel (podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/hows-work-with-esther-perel/id1497580407)
Esther’s podcast that focuses on the hard conversations we're afraid to have at work
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) (imdb.com/title/tt0805564/)
A young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the internet
Her (2013) (imdb.com/title/tt1798709/)
In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need
RECOMMENDED YUA EPISODES
Big Food, Big Tech and Big AI with Michael Moss (humanetech.com/podcast/big-food-big-tech-and-big-ai-with-michael-moss)
The AI Dilemma (humanetech.com/podcast/the-ai-dilemma)
The Three Rules of Humane Tech (humanetech.com/podcast/the-three-rules-of-humane-tech)
Digital Democracy is Within Reach with Audrey Tang (humanetech.com/podcast/23-digital-democracy-is-within-reach)
CORRECTION: Esther refers to the 2007 film Lars and the Real Doll. The title of the film is Lars and the Real Girl.
Your Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology (humanetech.com/) . Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_ (twitter.com/humanetech_)
