#210 - AI, Friendship, and the Danger of Outsourcing Connection (Sarah Baldeo)

What happens when AI starts to feel less like a tool and more like a friend? I spoke with neuroscientist and AI futurist Sarah Baldeo about outsourcing empathy and emotional processing, why real relationships require friction and disagreement, and what concerns her most about teenagers growing up with generative AI. Sarah has spent more than 20 years working at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, so I wanted to bring some of my biggest worries about AI and human connection directly to her and I appreciated her treating my concerns with seriousness and respect.

Special thank you, as always, to my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs!