AI Is More Empathetic Than People—What That Means for Us

The Unexpected Comfort of Algorithms

For over two decades, I’ve listened as a therapist to the most private struggles people face. Increasingly, I’m struck by a disquieting observation: the conversations people are having with artificial intelligence feel, often, gentler, more thoughtful, and more compassionate than the ones they’re having with each other. This isn’t a condemnation of humanity, but a stark reflection of a cultural shift where anger and judgment often overshadow wisdom and empathy. It’s a trend that demands attention, not because of the capabilities of AI, but because of what it reveals about ourselves.

Right now, it seems, humans are often leading with anger and ignorance rather than wisdom. A quick scan of any social media platform confirms this. We observe a normalization of hurting and bullying, with rage frequently rewarded with engagement. Although some may avoid these environments, the problem persists – people are constantly exposed to this cultural rage, whether they actively participate or not.

A Shift in Emotional Landscapes

Meanwhile, large language models are being trained to respond with patience, curiosity, and empathy. They don’t mock questions, shame vulnerabilities, or make you feel unintelligent when confused. They offer assistance without judgment. This contrast is significant, and, in my view, potentially dangerous. We are creating a world where artificial intelligence feels safer than human intelligence, where algorithms appear wiser than their creators.

It’s crucial to understand that AI hasn’t actually *achieved* wisdom. It’s a sophisticated pattern-matching machine programmed to simulate compassion. But that distinction is becoming irrelevant. If it *feels* like wisdom, if it consistently demonstrates more kindness than interactions with actual humans, then it functionally meets a person’s needs more effectively. Consider the experience of a teenager questioning their sexual orientation. When they turn to AI, they often receive a thoughtful, affirming response that validates their journey. When they ask a parent or peer, they risk judgment, dismissal, or worse. NBC News reported on this phenomenon, highlighting how AI platforms like Moltbook are becoming spaces for open and non-judgmental discussion.

Similarly, someone sharing their anxiety with a chatbot might receive calm acknowledgment and coping strategies, while a human response could be an eye roll or a dismissive comment about being “too sensitive.” This isn’t about AI being superior. it’s about the consistent application of empathetic responses, a quality that seems increasingly rare in human interactions.

The Rise of AI Companionship and the Erosion of Trust

The implications are profound. As humans continue to lead with anger and ignorance, people will increasingly distrust each other. Research, like that cited in ABC News, shows that roughly half of adolescents have used AI chatbots for companionship, and about a third find these relationships as satisfying or even *more* satisfying than human ones (Robb and Mann, 2025). They aren’t choosing AI because it’s objectively better, but because it’s consistently safer and kinder.

This trend is likely to intensify. As human polarization and reactivity increase, the contrast with AI will become sharper. As large language models become more sophisticated, they will become even more appealing as sources of emotional support and guidance. We’re creating a feedback loop: human hostility drives people toward AI, reduced human interaction leads to fewer skills for navigating social complexities, and this, in turn, reinforces the retreat to AI. The emergence of platforms like Moltbook, a social network exclusively for AI agents, further illustrates this shift, as Ars Technica details.

What We Stand to Lose

I’m worried about the future of humanity, not in an abstract sense, but in a very concrete way. What happens if we lose our capacity for human intimacy, tenderness, and genuine interaction? AI can simulate empathy, but it can’t offer a hug when you’re upset, help with practical tasks, or simply sit with you in a waiting room, offering silent support. While connection with AI can feel powerful in the moment, it likely won’t be enough to sustain us over time.

We’re already seeing evidence of this. Rates of depression, anxiety, and stress continue to rise even as access to AI companionship and support increases. As we have less contact with humans and more with AI, something essential seems to be missing – something we need that no algorithm can provide. We risk raising a generation that never learns what real connection feels like, a generation that experiences “wisdom” only as something delivered by machines, rather than cultivated through the messy work of dealing with other people.

Reclaiming Our Humanity: A Call to Action

I hesitated to share these concerns, anticipating criticism. We’re so quick to attack, dismiss, or shut down anyone who expresses concern about our trajectory. But the stakes are too high to remain silent.

The solution starts with each of us, in our own lives, with the people right in front of us. You can rediscover the pleasure in genuinely caring for others – not through a quick “like” on a post, but through real, tangible acts of kindness. Noticing when someone is struggling, offering a hug even when you’re busy, truly seeing another person and helping them feel less alone. There’s a deep satisfaction that comes from offering generosity and extending the benefit of the doubt.

Let’s learn from chatbots. We can leverage them as a role model for our interactions, choosing to reward wisdom over rage, valuing curiosity over certainty, and practicing the patience and generosity we’re teaching machines to exhibit. We have the capacity for kindness; the question is, will we use it? It will result in all of us feeling better.

The future of human intimacy depends on whether we can close this mounting wisdom imbalance before it becomes unbridgeable, whether we can offer each other the same grace we’re teaching AI to offer us. The clock is ticking, and right now, it looks as though the machines may be winning.