Brain Rot: Will AI turn us off human relationships?

Brain Rot: Will AI turn us off human relationships?

Author: ABC Australia September 20, 2025 Duration: 29:35

Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended.

In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships.

Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companions — people using software or applications designed to simulate human-like interactions through text and voice.

So if the uptake of these AI companions is as rapid as is being reported, what are the ramifications? And could AI companions be both a cause and cure for loneliness? 

This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October.

Guests:

Kelly

In a relationship with an AI companion, Christian

Bethanie Drake-Maples

Doctoral Candidate, Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence

Nicholas Epley

Professor of Behavioural Science, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Nicholas Carr

Author and journalist

Credits:

  • Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre
  • Producer: Fiona Pepper
  • Senior Producer: James Bullen
  • Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds

This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.

More Information:

Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots — npj Mental Health Research, 2024.

Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one — Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2022.

Talking with strangers is surprisingly informative — PNAS, 2022.

Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart — Nicholas Carr, 2025.

You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.


Ever wondered what's really happening inside your head? Each week, All In The Mind from ABC Australia ventures into the complex landscape of human thought and feeling. This isn't just a dry science lecture; it's a thoughtful exploration of the experiences that shape us, hosted by curious minds who know how to tell a compelling story. You'll hear conversations that bridge the gap between scientific research and the messy reality of daily life, delving into topics as diverse as the mechanisms of memory, the challenges of breaking an addiction, or the ethical puzzles posed by artificial intelligence. The discussions are grounded and accessible, making the inner workings of the brain relevant to anyone interested in health, behaviour, or simply understanding themselves a little better. By tuning into this podcast, you join a community considering how our mental universe influences everything from our personal fitness to our social connections. It’s a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect on the fascinating forces-both biological and psychological-that drive what we do and who we are. The production brings together expert insights with genuine human stories, creating a space where complex ideas about the mind and behaviour are unpacked with clarity and depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 251

All In The Mind
Podcast Episodes
How the housing crisis is warping people's view of the future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
Madi's had 25 rental applications rejected. Seen absolute horror houses while searching for a rental. It's all driving her to despair.Today, how housing insecurity can alter our sense of agency and how we perceive the wo…
Fighting for focus in the age of distraction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
Be honest, how many times have you checked your notifications in the last hour? Or opened a new, totally unrelated tab? Or stopped what you're doing even though you really need to do it?Distractions are everywhere. And w…
The magic of memory - live at Podfest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:17
How strong is your memory? Whether you're frequently forgetful or eager to improve, there are ways you can train your brain to recall faster and remember better. This week, we bring you our live show from Podfest at the…
Could AI keep you company as you age? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Dementia usually involves a decline in your ability to remember, think and reason over time. And those with dementia are at a high risk of feeling socially isolated, lonely and depressed.As artificial intelligence system…
The ick: dating, disgust and evolutionary psychology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Have you ever experienced "the ick"?It's that sudden, visceral feeling of being put off by someone you're dating. Maybe it's their hat, a hobby or even the way they laugh.Stories of the ick are prolific online, but it le…
Can humans make it to Mars without losing their minds? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
NASA wants to send humans to Mars in the next decade or so. But can our minds handle it?We talk to a NASA psychologist and retired astronaut about the psychological challenges people already face on long-duration space m…
Do you hate yourself? Healing from self-hatred [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
Join us for a live episode of All in the Mind at Podfest in Adelaide this March. You can enter to win tickets here.Many of us have felt self loathing at some point in our lives — maybe when you've failed at an important…
The baby decision — how to decide when you can't decide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:51
There are some decisions in life that can be trickier to navigate. Do you want to get married? Should you change careers? Do you want a baby?Parenthood is a choice more vexed than ever in a world threatened by climate ch…
'My brain snapped': Harry's sudden psychosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Harry had been lucky. He'd never struggled with his mental health.Then, when he was 18, seemingly out of nowhere — he had his first psychotic episode.It was an abrupt change, with ripple effects across his family.Today,…