Episode 46: When AI Feels Like Company: Companionship, Attachment, and the Psychology Behind It

from AI-Ignited · host Elif Başer

AI is no longer just a tool. For many teens and young adults, it’s becoming a companion. In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser sits down with Bahar Üskalkan to unpack how chatbots and virtual agents are reshaping loneliness, emotional attachment, and identity formation. Grounded in current psychological research, they explore why AI feels comforting, where the risks begin, and how we can design and use relational AI responsibly without losing what makes us human.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 15, 2025

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

Episode 46: When AI Feels Like Company: Companionship, Attachment, and the Psychology Behind It

0:00 4:45

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Episode 30 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 5

Jan 27, 2024 ·12m

Episode 28 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 4

Jan 19, 2024 ·9m

Episode 27 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 3

Jan 18, 2024 ·5m

Episode 26 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 2

Jan 14, 2024 ·6m

Episode 25 - How To Read And Interpret A Balance Sheet - Part 1

Jan 5, 2024 ·7m

Similar Podcasts

CISO Perspectives (public) N2K Networks This season on CISO Perspectives, host Kim Jones explores some of the challenges of leading through uncertainty. We explore the complexity of the changing nature of regulation and working with the federal government, the evolution of privacy and fraud, and how emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing are changing cyber. When you don’t know what questions to ask, you’re afraid to ask, or don’t know who to ask, CISO Perspectives provides the foundation for learning in this brave new world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of AI-Ignited?

This episode is 4 minutes long.

When was this AI-Ignited episode published?

This episode was published on December 15, 2025.

Can I download this AI-Ignited episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!