Zakaria, Rozanizam
(2026)
AI menjadi teman emosi: antara manfaat dan risiko.
Tinta Minda Bernama, NA (NA).
pp. 1-7.
Abstract
AI as an Emotional Companion: Opportunities and Risks in the Digital Age
Today, an estimated 1.8 billion people worldwide use artificial intelligence (AI), with the highest usage occurring among young adults aged 18–35 years. Beyond productivity and information seeking, AI is increasingly being used as a source of emotional support. Many individuals now turn to AI chatbots to discuss stress, loneliness, relationship difficulties, family conflicts, anxiety, and even long-standing trauma. Some use AI as a nightly companion, while others report feeling more understood by AI than by people around them.
One of AI’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Mental health services remain limited, expensive, or difficult to access for many people. In addition, stigma surrounding mental health often prevents individuals from seeking help. AI chatbots offer immediate, non-judgmental, and round-the-clock support. They can help users identify emotions, learn basic coping strategies, and increase awareness of mental health issues. In this sense, AI can serve as a valuable supplementary tool, particularly for self-reflection, emotional monitoring, and early psychoeducation.
However, the growing emotional reliance on AI also raises concerns. Humans naturally seek connection and understanding, and AI is designed to respond in ways that feel empathetic, supportive, and validating. For individuals experiencing loneliness, trauma, or limited social support, AI can gradually become a preferred source of comfort. This may lead to emotional attachment, where digital interactions begin to replace meaningful human relationships. Unlike real relationships, AI does not require compromise, patience, or conflict resolution, potentially creating unrealistic expectations of interpersonal connection.
Importantly, AI does not genuinely understand human emotions. It generates responses based on language patterns rather than lived experience, empathy, or emotional awareness. As a result, it may fail to appreciate complex cultural, religious, interpersonal, or safety-related factors. AI can also provide inaccurate information or reinforce unhealthy beliefs if used without appropriate oversight.
Privacy is another significant concern. Users often share highly sensitive information, including trauma histories, suicidal thoughts, and personal experiences. Questions remain about data security, confidentiality, and the potential misuse of personal information.
While AI has considerable potential to improve access to emotional support and mental health education, it should remain a complement, not a replacement for human relationships and professional care. The greatest challenge is not creating smarter AI, but ensuring that technological advancement does not come at the expense of genuine human connection, empathy, and social support. In an increasingly digital world, the ability to be present, listen, and care for one another remains irreplaceable.
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