Texting a Random Stranger Better for Loneliness Than Talking to a Chatbot

Ruo-Ning Li, Dunigan Folk, Abhay Singh, Lyle Ungar, Elizabeth Dunn, Is a random human peer better than a highly supportive chatbot in reducing loneliness over time?, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Volume 125, 2026, 104911, ISSN 0022-1031, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2026.104911. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103126000417) Abstract: AI chatbots are increasingly embedded in social life, offering accessible companionship. While brief interactions have ...