Effective Technological Solutions for Coping with Loneliness

Determine what kinds of technological solutions provide effective mechanisms for coping with loneliness among consumers, identifying which approaches genuinely alleviate loneliness and under what circumstances they do so.

Background

The paper reviews evidence that high-quality one-on-one human interactions reduce loneliness, whereas some technological interventions (including robot pets) have not consistently shown significant effects and social media may even exacerbate loneliness. Given the rapid growth of generative AI and the emergence of AI companions designed for social support, clarifying which technologies effectively reduce loneliness is critical.

This open question motivates the paper’s experimental investigation into whether AI companions can alleviate loneliness, how their effects compare to other activities, and what mechanisms (e.g., feeling heard, perceived performance) underlie any benefits.