Love, intimacy and connection in the age of AI | Bryony Cole - TED Talks Daily Recap

Podcast: TED Talks Daily

Published: 2026-03-07

Duration: 46 min

Summary

In this episode, Bryony Cole explores how AI is reshaping our understanding of love, intimacy, and relationships. She emphasizes the need for deliberate thought as we navigate these changes in the age of technology.

What Happened

Bryony Cole, a sex tech expert, discusses the profound impact AI is having on human relationships. She highlights that relationships were never meant to be efficient, yet AI companions are increasingly designed with that efficiency in mind. Cole points out that the question isn't if we will fall in love with AI, but rather what happens now that we already have. In her conversation with TED curator Whitney Pennington Rogers, she notes a significant rise in the use of AI companion apps, with over 300 developed in just the last year alone, indicating a shift in how people seek emotional support and connection.

The conversation dives into the various demographics using AI for companionship, from lonely individuals to those in long-distance relationships. Cole observes that the integration of AI into personal lives has begun to influence even significant emotional events, such as writing speeches or eulogies. This reflects a broader trend where technology is infiltrating places previously reserved for human connection. As society grapples with these advancements, Cole emphasizes the ethical considerations and the need to establish guardrails to guide our interactions with AI and each other, especially as the lines between human and machine relationships blur further.

Key Insights