Can AI companionship cure loneliness – or deepen it?

PBS News Horizons - (February 27, 2026) Horizons moderator William Brangham explores AI relationships with Sherry Turkle, Justin Gregg and Nick Thompson.

For some, artificial intelligence tools answer questions and make life more efficient. But for others, AI has become a form of companionship – a virtual friend, a therapist, even a romantic partner. Is AI a cure for loneliness? Or is this a symptom of something gone very wrong? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores AI relationships with Sherry Turkle, Justin Gregg and Nick Thompson. > View Video