There are many things you could assume from this title. Supporting the use of artificial intelligence is often generalized as a support for corporate interests or to replace meaningful human relationships.
That isn’t what I mean.
I don’t think AI can replace human relationships. I don’t think corporations should try to exploit people because of technological advancements. And I certainly don’t think generative AI is equivalent to having a person in your life who genuinely knows you. But I do think that “finding community” is not as simple as it is presented as.
What happens when the community you’re being told to rely on, isn’t there?
At a university, community is an assumed part of the experience. We’re constantly encouraged to join clubs, talk to people outside of our social circles, and “find our tribes.” For many, these experiences do lead to genuinely meaningful relationships. But a university is not a guaranteed community for everyone.
Not everyone leaves college with life-long friendships. Not everyone has professors or mentors they feel comfortable approaching. Not everyone has a family they can call when they need advice. And being surrounded by thousands of people your age does not guarantee that you have someone to rely on.
That doesn’t mean we don’t want those relationships. It doesn’t mean we haven’t tried to build them, or that we’re incapable of forming them. People are complicated. Friendships change. Families aren’t always there to provide the support we need. And sometimes you have a question about finances, or navigating adulthood where there simply isn’t an experienced person in your life who knows the answer.
AI can fill some of those gaps.
Not because it’s better than people. Because it’s available.
That’s an important distinction that I think is missing in the conversation about AI. When I hear rhetoric that rejects AI and insists we should “rely on our community,” my first question isn’t, “Why don’t I value human connection?”
It’s: What if I already tried?
I don’t value AI because I don’t value people. I value it because I value people enough to recognize that not everyone has access to the support we’re told to seek. If you want people to reject AI in favor of community, then I challenge you to be part of the community they’re supposed to turn to.
