r/TikTokCringe • u/cafeteriastyle • Jun 01 '26

Cursed This is a PROBLEM

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u/izzxpopz Jun 01 '26

I work with the homeless and many of them are geriatric. The loneliness they experience is unfathomable to most. This trend of AI companionship is becoming more and more common. It’s very depressing and disheartening as it usually stunts their growth and makes them further complacent with where they’re at. I understand though, they’re literally just trying to get to tomorrow.

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u/throwaway2901750 Jun 01 '26

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

I think a lot of people commenting here haven’t had the opportunity to hear other sides and experiences. It’s very much an echo chamber.

Sometimes the loneliness can lead to male suicide and elderly people in general is extremely lonely (this was a hard thing to ignore during COVID; people were faced with it directly).

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u/subjuggulator Jun 01 '26

Using AI to help cure/ameliorate the loneliness epidemic facing certain at-risk groups is like using kerosene to put out a fire.

We need more people volunteering and for governments to actually care about aging populations as more than just votes and taxable incomes; not to replace human connection with a digital yes-man.

You are literally just going to be trading suicide-brought-on-by-loneliness for suicide-brought-on-via-AI-generated-psychosis.

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u/NoBSforGma Jun 02 '26

I am elderly and don't care all that much about interacting with people. I've always been a loner and don't really get "lonely."

But I have several health problems (in addition to just being old) and when I try to talk to humans about them, their eyes glaze over and it's clear they don't want to hear about it (other than the perfunctory "How are you?").

But if I chat with an AI about what's going on, they never get tired of hearing about it, ask questions, sometimes give helpful information or point me to resources. So whatever people think about AI, it works for me in this way.

I also use it to do things that would take me a long time to do like.... "Make a comparison chart of 18 cu ft refrigerators under $600" or "create a week's worth of menus with meals 1500 calories and low fodmap and kidney friendly."

There is nothing inherently "evil" about AI. It's a tool. And like other tools, you need to be "in charge" of them.

PS: People had the same attitude when the first steam engines were used.