When the Computer Becomes a Bestie- Trouble in Paradise!

The rise of social AI is one of the most intriguing and, at times, unsettling developments in technology today. Unlike professional AI, which is designed for productivity, automation, and decision-making, social AI is built for human-like interaction. It’s meant to simulate conversation, companionship, and even emotional connection. Some people turn to social AI to combat boredom or loneliness, finding comfort in an ever-present digital interlocutor. Others use it therapeutically, engaging in guided conversations that help them process emotions. And then there’s the cringier side—the emergence of romantic AI, where people form deep attachments to artificial companions, a bridge that, for many, feels like a step too far.

I've always viewed technology as neutral—a tool that can be used for good or for harm. It’s part of our calling in the Creation Mandate, where God instructs humanity to subdue the earth and cultivate it. AI, including social AI, is an extension of that ingenuity, a product of human creativity that reflects the Imago Dei. But like all tools, its impact depends on how we use it. As I’ve thought about social AI, I’ve wrestled with both its potential and its pitfalls through a biblical lens.

Relationships Have to Be Real- Have Meaning and Purpose

God designed us for real, embodied relationships. From the very beginning, He declared that it was not good for man to be alone. We are meant for community, for love, for the depth and richness of human connection. Scripture is filled with the language of “one another”—bear one another’s burdens, love one another, encourage one another. These commands require presence, sacrifice, and the messiness of real life. AI may simulate companionship, but it cannot replace the kind of relational depth that comes through shared struggle, forgiveness, and self-giving love.

At the same time, there’s a danger in substitutes. Throughout history, people have turned to false replacements—idols that provide the illusion of control or fulfillment but ultimately leave them empty. AI is not an idol in itself, but if it becomes a substitute for real relationships, it starts to encroach on that territory. If someone begins to rely on AI for emotional support while avoiding the complexities of human connection, they may be settling for something hollow. God’s design for relationships isn’t about ease or predictability; it’s about growth, challenge, and the beauty found in imperfection.

Another concern I have is truth. Scripture constantly warns about deception, about the danger of things that appear real but are not. AI’s ability to generate human-like interactions raises ethical questions—are we fostering genuine connection, or are we engaging in something that subtly distorts reality? Proverbs tells us that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, and while AI itself does not lie, it can be used to create a world where authenticity is blurred. Jesus said that the truth will set us free, and I wonder if an over-reliance on artificial companionship could actually make people less free, more trapped in an illusion.

I don’t think the answer is to reject social AI outright. Paul’s words often come to mind—everything is lawful, but not everything is beneficial. AI can be used wisely. It can serve as a bridge for people who struggle with relationships, help facilitate connection, and even provide assistance to those who feel isolated. But wisdom means recognizing where a tool starts to control instead of serve. Proverbs reminds us that the prudent see danger and take refuge, while the simple keep going and suffer for it. I want to be someone who approaches these questions with discernment, not fear, but also not naivety.

Ultimately, what AI lacks is a soul. It can mimic, predict, and respond, but it does not carry the breath of God. It does not love, it does not sacrifice, it does not possess the divine spark that makes humans unique. That doesn’t mean it has no place, but it does mean we should be cautious in how we relate to it. The richness of human experience—our joys, our failures, our redemption—can’t be replicated by an algorithm. And if we lose sight of that, we risk diminishing what it truly means to be made in the image of God.

Technology is a tool, not a substitute. Used well, it can enhance life, but used poorly, it can erode the very things that make life meaningful. As social AI continues to grow, my prayer is that we don’t trade what is real for what is easy, and that we use the gifts of technology to serve rather than to replace the deep, God-given need we have for one another.

This is a tough topic to study- I have been reading journals where the mechanisms of ethics fail because human beings are messy. For example, if a study finds that men migrate to social AI interactions and become more lonely and depressed... is that because they are prone to be isolated from humanity in the first place?

Without guardrails.... I worry about the outcome!

To err is human

To forgive is Devine

To live in false perfection is AI