Do AI chatbots dream of humans?

Will they save us from loneliness?

Do AI chatbots dream of humans, the way androids once dreamed of electric sheep? Probably not. But we humans? We’re starting to dream of AI chatbots—especially now, with loneliness becoming our national pastime. It’s no secret. You don’t need statistics to feel it—just look around at all the people glued to their screens.

But, if you do like numbers (and some people apparently do), the CDC's 2024 report based on 2022 data says that 32.1% of U.S. adults feel lonely and about 24.1% lack social and emotional support. That's nearly one-third of the population sitting at home wondering why no one is texting them¹.