Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
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New information out of the University of British Columbia says that texting with a stranger may be a better cure for loneliness than messaging a highly supportive artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that’s specifically designed to be a caring, supportive friend.
“AI chatbots are increasingly embedded in social life, offering accessible companionship. While brief interactions have been shown to provide immediate benefits, it is unclear whether repeated, daily engagement with chatbots reduces loneliness,” states the UBC researcher’s findings published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology in July 2026.
Close to 300 first-semester university students participated in the study, each placed in one of three groups with a different method of communicating.
“…participants either texted a randomly paired peer, chatted with a supportive AI ‘friend’ or wrote a one-sentence journal entry each day for two weeks,” states UBC.
Among the three groups, only participants who texted with a real person reported reduced loneliness.
“Chatting with the chatbot was no more effective than journaling,” states UBC.
The results came as a surprise to Ruo-Ning Li, lead author and UBC PhD candidate.
“We thought that interacting with AI might be as helpful as texting with a random fellow first-year student,” said Li. “But to our surprise, only the human-to-human texting reduced loneliness over time. The chatbot, even though we designed it to be the ideal supportive friend, didn’t shift loneliness.”
In 2023, the World Health Organization referred to loneliness as a “pressing threat” and launched a new Social Connection commission to address it.
In June 2025, the WHO’s Social Connection reported one in six people worldwide is affected by loneliness.
The health impacts are significant, with loneliness linked to an “estimated 100 deaths every hour—more than 871,000 deaths annually,” it adds, citing strong social connections as the salve.
No age is exempt but rates are highest for young people ages 13 to 29 years old (up to 21% of individuals in this age group).
The numbers double among people in low-income countries (24%) compared to high-income countries (11%).
This is happening while digital connective innovation continues to evolve at a rapid pace.
In the AI chat bot group, students interacted with the researcher’s designed AI chatbot named Sam created specifically to offer ongoing support and act like a “caring friend by listening, validating feelings and checking in.”
And while Sam did not pull through in curbing loneliness, it did make a difference in reducing participants’ negative mood compared to journaling.
“Students reported less negative mood after chatting with it than after journaling. But that reduction in negative mood did not translate into reduced loneliness. Two weeks later, only students who had texted another student reported lower loneliness,” states UBC.
Following the study’s publication, lead author advises, “Reach out to a person—your classmate, a neighbour, the barista,” she said. “Even brief, everyday human check-ins seem to carry benefits that a chatbot can’t replace right now.”
To learn more, view the co-authored study between UBC and the University of Pennsylvania here.
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Liz Brown joined CHEK News in the fall of 2024. Over the years, she has worked with the National Film Board, CBC Radio, the Chetwynd Echo Newspaper, NowMedia and contributed to print and online features…. More by Liz Brown