India, Jan. 9 -- The problem is not loneliness. It is what effortless connection does to our expectations of relationships.The most consequential changes are often the ones that feel helpful at first. They remove small inconveniences, smooth over rough edges, and make everyday life easier - right up to the moment when their effects can no longer be ignored.

Over the past year, while studying artificial intelligence not just as a tool but as an environment people increasingly inhabit, I began noticing such a shift. It appeared in usage data, in research papers, and in ordinary conversations. Across countries and cultures, many people now spend more time each day in emotionally attentive conversations with

machines than with any other hum...