#52: What to do about loneliness

Hi friends,

Social connection is a major determinant of mental health outcomes.

And yet, we don’t talk about it much.

Every day, we’re becoming lonelier and more isolated, and as we do, our mental health is paying the price.

Unfortunately, things could actually get worse before they get better.

Into the void of social disconnection, AI has entered at top speed.

With its ability to replicate human behaviour, AI agents can be convincing companions, and they are getting adopted at alarming rates. This trend not only has the potential to exacerbate our disconnection, but also to cause real psychological harm if not managed.

Now, you probably already know that social connection is a problem.

It’s popular to talk about our epidemic of loneliness.

But what are we actually doing about it?

Who has tried to tackle this nasty problem, and how has it gone for them? Is anyone making headway?

What role can private organisations play in the solution (if any)? And what ideas do we have for solving it?

That’s what we get into in today’s edition of The Hemingway Report.

Let’s get into it.

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