Is A.I. a Teen’s New Best Friend?

According to a recent study, more than half of today’s teenagers regularly communicate with generative artificial intelligence companions (Common Sense Media, 2025), fueled by the appeal of constant companionship and even mental-health support. Yet experts caution that these digital confidants can foster unhealthy dependency, deepen loneliness, and offer unpredictable or harmful responses. To the unsuspecting or unaware, A.I. can take on many human-like traits. The truth, however, is that A.I. remains completely lacking in the emotional depth, wisdom, and experiential knowledge that many are seeking.

The Bible speaks directly to the irreplaceable value of authentic human connection. King Solomon wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). This reminds us that our character grows when we engage in genuine give-and-take with our fellow human beings. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 points out that “two are better than one… for if they fall, one will lift up his companion,” illustrating how shared burdens and victories cement bonds of trust. Hebrews 10:24–25 urges those who devote themselves to following Christ not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” While A.I. can simulate empathy, it cannot bear burdens or offer true emotional support.

Leaning on digital “friends” risks stunting the relationships God designed to refine, preserve, and improve us. Parents and leaders must guide young people to exercise discernment in their tech habits, always directing deeper emotional and spiritual needs toward trusted human friends and advisors—and especially to God. When we share our own struggles and doubts and invite others into real conversations, we discover the profound value human interaction possesses that digital convenience never will. Technology can serve as a tool, but it must never replace authentic, living relationships. You can learn more about the real dangers of A.I. by reading or listening to “Live Not by (A.I.) Lies.”