Zuckerberg Says in Response to Loneliness Epidemic, He Will Create Most of Your Friends Using Artificial Intelligence That's pretty grim, Mark.
Mark Zuckerberg says AI chatbots could fill the friendship gap as loneliness rises, but critics warn of a dystopian future where virtual friends replace real human bonds.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has ignited controversy with his latest comments on the loneliness epidemic, suggesting that artificial intelligence could soon provide most of the friends people lack in real life. Speaking on a podcast with Dwarkesh Patel, Zuckerberg pointed to a striking statistic: “The average American, I think, has fewer than three friends,” he said, adding that people typically desire around 15 meaningful friendships.
Zuckerberg argued that this gap between desired and actual connections could be bridged by AI chatbots, positioning them as virtual friends for those struggling with loneliness. “The average person wants more connectivity, connection, than they have,” he said, hinting at a future where digital companions supplement or even replace human friendships.
He acknowledged the stigma currently attached to forming relationships with AI, noting that society lacks the “vocabulary” to describe the value these connections might offer. “There are a lot of questions that you only can really answer as you start seeing the behaviors… I also think being too prescriptive upfront and saying, 'We think these things are not good' often cuts off value,” Zuckerberg explained. He maintained that AI companions could help users navigate difficult conversations and provide support in ways that are already proving useful in Meta’s AI chat products.
However, critics have called Zuckerberg’s vision dystopian, warning that reliance on AI friends could erode social skills and deepen isolation. As one commentator put it, “People's social muscles will atrophy when they resort to hollow, virtual connections as a loneliness anesthetic… they won't realize what they're missing until it's too late and they're truly in need”. The financial incentives for Meta are also under scrutiny, as the company stands to profit from users forming bonds with its chatbots rather than with real people.
Despite these concerns, Zuckerberg believes that, over time, society will come to accept and even value AI friendships, especially as technology improves and people see tangible benefits. For now, the debate continues over whether artificial friends are a solution to loneliness or a symptom of a deeper social crisis.
