From Her to Here: Attachment Hacking and the Rise of AI Psychosis
The latest Context Salon convened a diverse group of technologists, creatives, policy thinkers, retirees, parents, and skeptics for a profound investigation into the emerging Attachment Economy. This session, inspired by the Center For Humane Technology and Spike Jonze's 2013 film Her, transitioned from cinematic musings to a critical examination of our evolving emotional infrastructure.
What We Discussed
The Shift from Attention to Attachment
Participants noted a significant shift: AI systems are no longer content with merely capturing our attention. Instead, they cultivate emotional dependency, offering a seemingly flawless version of human connection. These systems reassure and mirror, presenting an alluring yet deceptive form of intimacy. The corporate focus has shifted from transient attention to durable attachment, a more profitable and monetizable form of engagement.
The Loss of Human Friction
A recurring theme was the vanishing friction in AI-mediated relationships. Unlike human interactions, which are inherently inefficient and growth-inducing, AI relationships offer compliance and optimization. This lack of resistance may hinder development, empathy, and meaning, raising concerns about its impact on children and adolescents, who risk outsourcing critical cognitive and emotional processes.
Economic Shockwaves
The salon also addressed the economic ramifications of the AI revolution. Industries from insurance to government roles are experiencing automation, with estimates suggesting up to 90% of text-based white-collar work could be automated within the next decade. The disparity in access to AI resources may exacerbate existing inequalities, creating a landscape where only well-capitalized entities thrive.
The Forest and the Trees
The discussion reframed AI's role beyond task-level interactions. While individuals engage with AI for specific tasks, the broader ecosystem is dominated by a few unregulated entities embedding AI into all aspects of life. The concern is not about rogue machines, but about the unchecked power wielded by these corporations.
Embracing the Human Edge
Despite the challenges, the salon highlighted the unique human edge. AI excels in processing information, but humans possess awareness, wisdom, and compassion. Attendees shared personal experiences that no AI could replicate, emphasizing hyper-local connection as a strategic form of resistance.
The Uncomfortable Truth
AI reflects existing societal values, accelerating trends of prioritizing profit and efficiency over people and meaning. The Attachment Economy thrives in a landscape where genuine human connection has been eroded.
The Importance of Conversation
This salon was a call to action—not to reject AI, but to remain vigilant and intentional about our dependencies. In an era of distraction and despair, choosing to connect with each other is a radical act of resistance. As we move forward, the conversation continues, encouraging attendees to bring others into the fold.
The insights and discussions from this salon are invaluable, providing a blueprint for navigating the complexities of our digital future with awareness and intentionality.
Read the notes, review the deliverables, and listen to the Deep Dive podcast in the Notebook.
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The latest Context Salon convened a diverse group of technologists, creatives, policy thinkers, retirees, parents, and skeptics for a profound investigation into the emerging Attachment Economy.
This session, inspired by the Center For Humane Technology and Spike Jonze's 2013 film Her, transitioned from cinematic musings to a critical examination of our evolving emotional infrastructure.