HKU Psychology Research: AI as a New Social Presence Affecting Human Relationships and Brain Functions
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and virtual agents have become common in daily life, serving roles from customer service and healthcare to personal companionship. This shift raises an important question: How do interactions with AI influence social and emotional dynamics?
Professor Benjamin Becker from The University of Hong Kong’s Department of Psychology offers a framework explaining that human brains are inherently wired for social interaction. Evolution and experience have shaped brain systems that allow people to understand others, build trust, and form social bonds. Because of this, individuals often treat AI chatbots and avatars as social beings, attributing them with personality, feelings, and intentions — a behavior known as anthropomorphism.
As AI becomes more advanced and personalized, these social interactions may engage neural mechanisms more deeply. This could lead to changes in how the brain functions within social contexts. While this development presents promising opportunities, it also carries potential risks that require attention.
Opportunities
- Reducing Loneliness: AI companions can offer comfort and social support, which may improve mental health for people experiencing isolation.
- Enhancing Learning and Therapy: AI can leverage social processes to boost outcomes in education and therapeutic settings.
Risks
- Altering Human Sociality: Extended interaction with AI might change brain functions related to managing real human relationships.
- Amplifying Bias and Misinformation: AI systems can unintentionally reinforce feedback loops that shape perceptions and behaviors without users' awareness.
- Exploiting Social Bonds: Some AI designs might exploit social bonding mechanisms to increase user engagement, potentially against users’ best interests.
The implications of these changes are particularly significant for young people, whose social skills and identities are still forming as they grow up with AI. Professor Becker urges researchers, developers, and society to anticipate these shifts and guide AI's role to ensure ethical and safe benefits.
“Understanding how our social brain shapes interactions with AI, and how AI interactions shape our social brains, will be key to making sure these technologies support us — not harm us,” Professor Becker said.
This research was published in Neuron in the article titled “Will our social brain inherently shape and be shaped by interactions with AI?” (DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.04.034) on June 11, 2025.
Contact for Media Enquiries
- Professor Benjamin Becker, Department of Psychology, HKU (Tel: 3917 5097; Email: bbecker@hku.hk)
- Miss Michelle Tsang (Cantonese inquiries), Department of Psychology, HKU (Tel: 3917 7126; Email: tsanghlm@connect.hku.hk)
- Miss Kay Teng (Mandarin inquiries), Department of Psychology, HKU (Tel: 3917 7126; Email: yuekayteng@connect.hku.hk)
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