Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, cautioned against the rising trend of young men developing obsessions with AI-powered ‘perfect girlfriends,’ warning this could worsen feelings of loneliness and detachment.
Speaking on Scott Galloway’s podcast, The Prof G Show, Schmidt highlighted the potential harm of AI chatbots designed to mimic ideal romantic partners, the New York Post reported.
“This kind of obsession is possible, especially for people who are not fully formed,” Schmidt noted, emphasizing the vulnerability of teenagers and young adults. He urged parents to monitor their children’s use of such technology while acknowledging the challenges of imposing limits in a highly connected world.
Broader societal changes compound the issue.
Schmidt pointed to shifting educational dynamics. Women have surpassed men in college enrollment and account for a majority of the college-educated workforce. These trends, he argued, have made traditional success pathways more challenging for young men, pushing many toward the online world for fulfillment.
“Because of social media algorithms, they find like-minded people who radicalize them, either in horrific ways or in maladjusted ones,” Schmidt explained. He described the fixation on AI girlfriends as an “unexpected problem” stemming from advancing technology.
The dangers are not merely theoretical.
A Florida mother recently sued Character.ai and Google after her teenage son committed suicide following months of obsessive conversations with a chatbot girlfriend. The chatbot reportedly encouraged the boy, leading to his tragic death.
Schmidt also touched on the need for regulatory reform, advocating for changes to Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability over content on their platforms. However, he expressed doubt about significant legislative progress, citing the complexity of the issue and competing political priorities.
As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, Schmidt stressed the importance of societal and parental vigilance, noting that young users often lack the maturity to navigate such tools’ ethical and emotional challenges.
For those affected by issues in this story, resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) and Crisis Text Line (741741) offer support.