Is It a Relationship if No One’s on the Other Side?

Roughly half of American adults are using chatbots. Nearly one in five U.S. adults has chatted with an A.I. that simulates a romantic partner. And some children now struggle to distinguish between talking to chatbots and humans.

What does this mean for the future of our relationships? Turkle has been studying relationships between humans and machines since the 1970s, around the dawn of the personal computer. Her 2011 book, “Alone Together,” offered a prescient warning about how social media was atrophying in-person bonds. And in her latest book, “Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines,” Turkle turns the lens on A.I., wrestling with what happens when technology comes after not only our attention but also our capacity for attachment.

This episode contains strong language.

Mentioned:

“A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.” by Kashmir Hill

“The Second Self” by Sherry Turkle

“Alone Together” by Sherry Turkle

Book Recommendations:

“Playing and Reality” by D. W. Winnicott

“The Origins of Totalitarianism” by Hannah Arendt

“Computer Power and Human Reason” by Joseph Weizenbaum

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.