"Digital Painkiller": Is AI Making Us Lonelier? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 13 MIN

"Digital Painkiller": Is AI Making Us Lonelier?

from Emotional Longevity · host Elisha Goldstein

What if AI companionship is soothing loneliness in the short term—but worsening it over time? In this thought-provoking episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein examines the emotional consequences of using AI for companionship, support, and connection. Through emerging research from Harvard Business School, MIT Media Lab, and OpenAI, Dr. Goldstein explores how AI can temporarily reduce distress by making users feel heard and understood, while heavy reliance may deepen emotional dependency and long-term isolation. This episode offers a nuanced look at one of modern life’s biggest questions: Can technology support emotional well-being without replacing genuine human belonging?

What if AI companionship is soothing loneliness in the short term—but worsening it over time? In this thought-provoking episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein examines the emotional consequences of using AI for companionship, support, and connection. Through emerging research from Harvard Business School, MIT Media Lab, and OpenAI, Dr. Goldstein explores how AI can temporarily reduce distress by making users feel heard and understood, while heavy reliance may deepen emotional dependency and long-term isolation. This episode offers a nuanced look at one of modern life’s biggest questions: Can technology support emotional well-being without replacing genuine human belonging?

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"Digital Painkiller": Is AI Making Us Lonelier?

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This episode was published on May 12, 2026.

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What if AI companionship is soothing loneliness in the short term—but worsening it over time? In this thought-provoking episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein examines the emotional consequences of using AI for...

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