Artificial intelligence has become the golden child of modern innovation, creating more shareholder value in the past two years than the global auto industry has in its entire existence. It’s breathtaking—and a little terrifying. Screens are replacing old fashioned interaction and that's a major risk to our wallets and our safety.
This isn’t just about lonely evenings and too much screen time. Unhappy, disconnected individuals—particularly young men—pose profound risks to economic growth and national security. The question isn’t whether we can adapt to this new era of technology, but whether we can do so in a way that doesn’t undermine the social fabric holding our economies and governments together.
The Cost of Progress: A Fractured Society
Tech adoption cycles are accelerating like never before. The radio took two decades to reach mass adoption; Instagram hit a billion users in just five years. With that speed comes disruption—not just in industries but in lives. And while AI has brought dazzling economic rewards, its side effects are less glamorous.
• Loneliness and Disconnection: A generation ago, loneliness wasn’t a national epidemic. Now, the number of people reporting no close friends has quadrupled. Among men, 1 in 7 have no friends at all, and a shocking 1 in 3 men under 30 report no romantic relationships.
• AI “Relationships” on the Rise: Enter AI relationship simulators—programs designed to mimic companionship. These tools, like AI girlfriends, might scratch the itch temporarily, but they don’t solve the deeper issues of isolation and lack of connection.
• The Happiness Imperative: As Harvard’s Grant Study famously concluded: “Happiness is love, full stop.” Loneliness isn’t just sad—it’s destabilizing. Unhappy individuals are less productive at work, more prone to radicalization, and, in the long term, a liability to both economic stability and state security.
The Economic and National Security Case for Connection
Let’s connect the dots: AI is boosting productivity and wealth at an unprecedented rate, but the benefits aren’t evenly distributed. Roughly 97% of AI value creation is concentrated in the U.S., and 70% of that within a 7-mile radius of San Francisco International Airport. Meanwhile, GDP growth in the U.S. is projected to account for 80% of global growth next year.
But prosperity built on fragile relationships is a house of cards. Social isolation drives disengagement, undermines workplace collaboration, and breeds resentment. Historically, dissatisfied populations—particularly isolated young men—have been a powder keg for instability. Economies thrive on trust and cooperation. Lose those, and you lose the foundation of growth itself.
The Role of Leaders: Building Relationships for Prosperity
Business and government leaders have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how relationships are formed and nurtured in a tech-driven world. By prioritizing connection, they can mitigate the risks of isolation while harnessing the full potential of AI and innovation. Here’s how:
1. Rethink Corporate Culture: Productivity is driven by collaboration, and collaboration thrives on relationships. Companies must create environments where respect, camaraderie, and mentorship aren’t just buzzwords but measurable goals. Programs like team-building initiatives, workplace mentorships, and even co-working spaces can foster real-world connections in an increasingly remote work landscape.
2. Invest in Community Infrastructure: Governments should treat the relationship crisis as a public health issue. Investments in community centers, sports programs, and arts initiatives can provide avenues for people to meet and connect outside of the digital space. These are not just social niceties—they are long-term investments in societal stability.
3. Regulate AI Relationship Simulators: While AI tools like chatbots and virtual companions have their place, they should not replace genuine human connection. Policymakers can work with tech companies to create ethical standards that prioritize emotional well-being over addiction-driven profits.
4. Encourage Digital Balance: Leaders can set an example by encouraging digital mindfulness. Whether through public awareness campaigns or corporate policies (like mandatory offline hours), promoting a healthier relationship with technology is key.
5. Support Family Policies: Strong families create strong economies. Paid parental leave, childcare subsidies, and other family-oriented policies can help rebuild bonds that technology often erodes.
The Business and Security Case for Love
It might feel counterintuitive to pair a term like “national security” with “relationships,” but they’re more intertwined than we like to admit. Thriving relationships create stable communities, and stable communities are the foundation of resilient economies and secure states.
As AI continues to reshape the way we live and work, leaders face a choice: allow technology to undermine the relationships that hold our society together, or step up to create systems that reinforce them. The stakes couldn’t be higher—our happiness, prosperity, and security depend on getting this balance right.
I'm aware that I sound like every other capitalist when I say that happiness, as it turns out, isn’t just good for the soul; it’s good for the bottom line, but it's true. Let’s build a future where we don’t have to choose between innovation and connection—because the strongest communities and their economies are built on love, full stop.