Can New Technologies Help Lonely People? Reflections on Voice and Visual AI

Last Updated on 22 July 2025

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Today, technology is advancing at lightning speed, and it’s sometimes scary to imagine what the next 5–10 years might bring. Artificial intelligence can already respond to our written questions — but now it can hold a voice conversation like a real person. Just imagine: you simply ask a question out loud, like you would with a friend — and you get a response in the same natural, spoken format. Even more, soon there will be camera support, allowing you to point it at an object and ask, “What is this?”, “How does it work?”, “What do I do with this?” — and receive a calm, clear, human-like answer.

On one hand, it’s just convenient. But from a psychological perspective — especially through the lens of loneliness — this opens up something much deeper. Can AI like this help lonely people feel less alone? I believe the answer is yes, and here’s why.

Loneliness isn’t just the physical absence of people around you. It’s the feeling that no one hears you, no one understands you, and that no one really cares. It can be especially difficult for those who are isolated — because of age, illness, limited social connections, introversion, or anxiety. For such individuals, a simple conversation can be stressful, especially if they’re not sure they’ll be understood or accepted. But a voice-based AI can provide a safe space. It won’t interrupt, laugh, or judge. It just listens and responds — patiently and clearly.

Some might say this is just an imitation of communication. But from a psychological point of view, even imitation can have a positive effect. When you hear a voice responding with care, it activates the same areas of the brain as a real conversation. Even a brief exchange like “Hi, how can I help you?” and “Thanks, you really helped” can create a sense of connection and value.

What’s especially exciting is the idea of multimodal interaction — where the AI can see, hear, and understand gestures, facial expressions, and context. It becomes not just a “smart assistant,” but something closer to a “virtual companion.” Imagine showing the AI a houseplant and asking, “Why are its leaves turning yellow?” And instead of giving a generic response, it considers the visual details, your tone of voice, your emotion. That’s already a real dialogue — almost like with a human. It might not replace true friendship, but it can definitely offer support.

Voice interaction also lowers barriers. For people who struggle to type or write — seniors, children — it’s much easier to just speak. This makes technology feel closer, more “human.” When a machine talks to you in simple, kind, understandable language, it creates a sense of closeness.

Of course, there are risks. Some people might grow too attached to their virtual companion and withdraw from the real world. That’s why it’s important to remember that AI is a helper, a tool — not a replacement for real human connection. But as a transitional step, for those who currently find it hard to connect with others, this kind of technology can be a real bridge back to life.

One more important point is the opportunity to “be heard.” Even if you’re not looking for advice, just saying something out loud — getting it off your chest — can bring relief. And if the response is, “I understand, that’s not easy,” — even from an AI — it can feel like support. In this sense, yes, technology really can serve as “psychological first aid” for people who are lonely.

So, to sum up: new technologies, especially voice and multimodal AI, aren’t just about convenience. They’re about humanity, about the desire to feel closer, to be heard and understood. It may not be real friendship — yet — but it’s already a step toward making loneliness less scary. And if technology can help us feel less abandoned — isn’t that a kind of miracle?