My Best Friend is AI with Valerie Tiberius, Professor of Philosophy at University of Minnesota

AI companions are becoming part of daily life for millions of people. Chatbots now offer advice, reduce loneliness, and even simulate emotional connection — raising real questions about what we gain and what we lose. For professionals building these tools, the stakes go beyond engagement metrics. How should companion chatbots handle vulnerability? What happens when users — especially children — start treating AI responses as a substitute for human relationships? And is there a way to design AI companions that actually make us better at connecting with real people?

Valerie Tiberius is the Paul W. Frenzel Chair in Liberal Arts and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota. She is an expert in ethics, moral psychology, and well-being, and the author of five books including Artificially Yours: Real Friendship in a World of Chatbots (Princeton University Press, May 2026). She previously served as President of the Central Division of the American Philosophical Association.

In the episode, Richie and Valerie explore the purpose of friendship and whether AI can replicate it, the benefits and risks of chatbot companions for loneliness, how sycophantic AI responses distort advice and self-perception, the dangers of companion chatbots for children's social development, designing ethical AI companions that promote human flourishing, the zone of proximal development as a framework for better AI tools, and much more.

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Links Mentioned in the Show:
Artificial Intimacy by Sherry Turkle — https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/sherry-turkle/artificial-intimacy/9780316573962/
Being You: A New Science of Consciousness by Anil Seth — https://www.anilseth.com/being-you/
Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564990/liberation-day-by-george-saunders/
Hard Fork podcast (NYT) — https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork
Connect with Valerie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-tiberius-07098011/
AI-Native Course: Intro to AI for Work — https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-ai-for-work
Related Episode: #342 — "The Secrets to High AI Adoption" with Stefano Puntoni, Professor at Wharton: https://www.datacamp.com/podcast/the-secrets-to-high-ai-adoption

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