There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making an impact on those who use it and can be beneficial in a variety of ways. But this also begs the question: What are the costs?
AI has been developing for decades, but recent advancements have brought it into everyday life through programs like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and others. Its uses are seemingly endless; businesses use it for efficiency and productivity, while many individuals use it as a source of emotional support and connection.
When someone is trying to approach a difficult personal situation, AI is there—and the costs of attaining this support can seem low. No emotional sharing with another person is required. There is no conflict or vulnerability in the same way there might be when reaching out to a friend. AI is constantly available, can serve as a seemingly nonjudgmental sounding board, and can even provide quick coping strategies.
But there is another side to this convenience.
AI fits quite snugly into a common American phenomenon: seeking quick fixes that don’t address the entirety of an issue and can sometimes worsen things in the long-run. While AI is constantly available, it cannot create or extend real empathy. It recognizes patterns and generates responses that resemble human conversation, but empathy is a deeply human experience. A computer may imitate the language of empathy, but it cannot recreate true human connection.
If someone continually turns to AI instead of other people, it could create a pattern of avoidance and isolation. Real relationships require vulnerability. They require navigating misunderstandings, hearing perspectives we may not agree with, repairing conflict, and tolerating the discomfort that comes with being known by another person.
AI can also be overly agreeable, limiting opportunities to tolerate disagreement or have our thinking challenged. When used primarily for emotional support, it can create a cycle of dependence. Instead of developing skills to move through difficult situations—or learning when to seek support from another person—someone may develop a habit of turning to technology whenever something goes wrong. What feels like immediate relief may not contribute to long-term growth.
From a Catholic perspective, the Church has approached AI with cautious openness, recognizing its potential as a practical tool while emphasizing that technology cannot replace authentic human relationships or human dignity. Human beings are made for relationship—with God and with one another—and our capacity for relationship reflects something profound about the relational nature of the Holy Trinity.
There is still much to be understood about AI and its impact on the human race. AI does not necessarily need to be feared or avoided. Rather, we need to be thoughtful about what we are asking it to do for us.
When used within appropriate boundaries, AI can be incredibly useful. But when it becomes an emotional support substitute, a moral compass, or a replacement for friendship and authentic human connection, its convenience may come with much greater costs.