I caught a story on the news about a new trend for seniors, Virtual Reality Companions. These are Artificial Intelligence (AI) companions for seniors designed to combat loneliness and improve emotional well-being. They offer daily companionship, health monitoring, and cognitive stimulation.
The news story featured an elderly woman who was homebound. She demonstrated having a conversation with an AI generated companion. She said it alleviated her loneliness. I wanted to cry.
Loneliness is a real problem. And often the devices created to increase the ease of communication have only served to increase our isolation.
An AI device might be able to offer a verbal companion, but it cannot give a hug, or hold a hand, or wipe away tears. Only other humans can offer that. And let us not forget that God has commanded Christians to reach out to others.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” [Romans 12:15 HCSB]
Do you know someone you need to rejoice or weep with today? No better time to do so.
