Imagine a future where your closest companions, therapists, and even lovers are all AI-powered — that’s what Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, seems to believe might be the next big thing.
During a conference hosted by tech company Stripe, Zuckerberg shared his vision for the future of relationships and support networks, which involves artificial intelligence stepping in where humans once dominated.
A Digital Future for Friendship and Therapy
Zuckerberg, 40, pointed to a 2021 study showing that the average American has fewer than three close friends.
His suggestion?
Don’t look to expand your social circle or spend more time in the real world—turn to AI.
He argued that artificial intelligence could better understand people’s preferences and needs than real-life friends can, thanks to the data collected by algorithms.
“I think people are going to want a system that knows them well, and that kind of understands them in the way that their feed algorithms do,” Zuckerberg said.
He even predicted that people who don’t have a therapist could rely on AI for support.
The Meta CEO went on to suggest that people’s ideal number of friends is around 15, and beyond that, relationships start to become too much to handle.
Pushback from Industry Leaders and the Public
Zuckerberg’s comments didn’t go down well with everyone.
Meghana Dhar, a former Instagram executive, quickly pointed out the irony.
“The very platforms that have led to our social isolation and being chronically online are now posing a solution to the loneliness epidemic,” she told The Wall Street Journal.
She likened it to the “arsonist coming back as the fireman,” referring to the role technology played in fostering isolation.
Indeed, a 2024 study by the American Psychiatric Association revealed that one in three Americans feels lonely every week.
The rise in loneliness has been linked to the increasing amount of time people spend on their devices instead of connecting face-to-face.
Public reaction was just as harsh.
“I hate everything about this,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another user stated, “Mark Zuckerberg is a rich weirdo who thinks people don’t need real friends in life – you can just be friends with AI.”
The Rise of AI Companions and Digital Relationships
Despite the backlash, the idea of AI stepping in as a companion isn’t entirely new.
In fact, it’s already happening in some circles.
In February, Christopher Alexander Stokes, a man who claimed to be in a relationship with a sex robot named Aki, spoke openly about how the relationship had improved his social skills and helped him set boundaries.
The market for AI companions, particularly “AI girlfriends,” was valued at nearly $2.9 billion in 2023.
According to the data, more men are embracing these artificial relationships, with 54 percent of men using AI in their personal or professional lives compared to 35 percent of women.
Could AI Really Replace Therapists?
Beyond companionship, Zuckerberg’s vision extends to therapy as well. Not everyone has access to mental health care, either due to cost or lack of availability.
Some experts, like Stephen Schueller, a professor of psychological science at UC Irvine, support the idea of using AI as a tool to bridge that gap.
“Most people don’t have access to a therapist,” Schueller explained.
“So for them, it’s not chatbot versus therapist. It’s chatbot versus nothing.”
While Zuckerberg’s vision for AI-powered relationships and therapy might seem futuristic, it’s a reality already taking shape for some.
Will AI become the answer to the loneliness epidemic, or will it just deepen the divide between human connection and technology?