this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2026
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Gen Z is living in an intimacy economy, where connection is commodified (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 3 days ago by arbilp3@aussie.zone to c/australia@aussie.zone
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/35023765

Leading AI researchers now expect artificial general intelligence (AGI) – where AI meets or exceeds human intellectual capabilities – within three to five years. When AGI automates thinking, the economy will need to reorganise around what machines cannot do: feel.

We are already in the intimacy economy. But if we are to thrive within it, we must wrestle back our most valuable economic asset from technology: the messy complexities of being human. My generation are the begrudging harbingers of what will happen if we continue to outsource intimacy: we will lose the emotional skills a post-AGI economy will depend on most, rendering us unemployable. We knew social media was addictive and slowing our cognitive development, but officials took until this year to act. We can’t make the same mistake with the intimacy economy.

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[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's not just 'they' that need an intervention, imo. Vulnerable people need to be shown that people can be relied upon.

I also think that we need to support youth from primary school onwards to develop insight, emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in real-life situations and to learn about this AI minefield, otherwise, mental health problems are going to keep increasing.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yes, unfortunately Gen Z has gone from being the forgotten generation as children with social media straight into generative AI chatbots as adults. Regulation is too slow and ineffective due to the archaic nature of our institutions. That's part of the reason I feel so strongly about individual responsibility, because unfortunately no one is coming to save these young people (or any of us, really).

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Shouldn't we be there to save each other? Those of us who are older or more experienced and who care about what is happening to the young, we are accountable.

We cannot expect them all to be responsible if we have not supported their growth as individuals who are valued. Many young people don't necessarily have perfect role models around them. None of us are perfect but we are sharing a society and we can be 'there' and not just say it's up to the individual, especially if the individual has not had enough experience of person to person ommunication.

I'm not discounting what you are saying. This is an enormous challenge.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

We already are, there are support systems (professional and voluntary) that exist to help those who are willing to ask for it. No one can force them to take that first step, though, that's something that is ultimately up to them. It starts with admitting to yourself that you have a problem, which is something these people convincing themselves they are in relationships with chatbots are sadly not doing.

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Then more work needs to be done online imo, among Gen Z, to make the discussion of this topic go viral so that it gets to as many people as possible.

If you know the names of the support systems you mention, could you provide them please so we can pass the word around.