EPISODE · Dec 15, 2025 · 4 MIN
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.
What this episode covers
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.
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Episode 46: When AI Feels Like Company: Companionship, Attachment, and the Psychology Behind It
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