Esther Perel on Why A.I. Intimacy Feels Safe but Isn’t Real episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 30 MIN

Esther Perel on Why A.I. Intimacy Feels Safe but Isn’t Real

from The Opinions · host New York Times Opinion

To love is to be human. Or is it? As human-chatbot relationships become more common, the Times Opinion culture editor Nadja Spiegelman talks to the psychotherapist Esther Perel about what really defines human connection, and what we’re seeking when we look to satisfy our emotional needs on our phones.Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 28, 2026

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Perel, a renowned psychotherapist, doesn’t really think society can — or should — fall in love with a machine.

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Esther Perel on Why A.I. Intimacy Feels Safe but Isn’t Real

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