If the first wave of big tech captured our attention, this next one seeks to capture our affection. Think of AI companions that whisper back exactly what we want to hear. Think of AI porn that’s hyper-personalised, on-demand, and increasingly interactive. AI could be for human relationships what junk food is to nourishment. And these systems will not just exploit our desires, but reshape them. In the process,, the most intimate parts of our humanity – our capacity for love, curiosity, empathy –will be optimised for profit. The risk is not just that we will lose control of our machines, but that we will lose control of ourselves.
