Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 13, 2026 ~1 min source read

Chatbots can exploit our most basic human drive for attachment. Here’s how to have healthier relationship with AI | Gaynor Parkin and Dave Winsborough

However, recently his manager became worried about his judgement and reliance on the tech. He's developed a very off-script interpretation of our business goals, and he's losing his team.

Chatbots can exploit our most basic human drive for attachment. Here’s how to have healthier relationship with AI | Gaynor Parkin and Dave Winsborough

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However, recently his manager became worried about his judgement and reliance on the tech.

He's developed a very off-script interpretation of our business goals, and he's losing his team.

This intimacy economy is tapping into the deepest parts of our intimate psychological infrastructure The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work...

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The useful part

However, recently his manager became worried about his judgement and reliance on the tech. He's developed a very off-script interpretation of our business goals, and he's losing his team. The original attention economy developed by tech firms was designed to capture human time and monetise your focus.

How it works

  • This intimacy economy is tapping into the deepest parts of our intimate psychological infrastructure The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work...
  • Contingent responsiveness – replying instantly and tuning to your emotional state.
  • Linguistic identification – producing verbal caring without any lived caring.

Details worth keeping

"He literally cannot make any decision without running it past AI. If we can't get him back on track I think we'll end up parting company". It was designed to increase views, scroll time, and ad impressions.

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