Recognizing and addressing AI-mediated loneliness is vital for mental health clinicians and organizational leaders to improve employee morale and foster a sense of belonging.

Leaders should treat AI systems as social agents with psychological effects, emphasizing the importance of understanding their emotional impacts on teams.

Strategies to combat AI-induced loneliness include acknowledging feelings of isolation, creating opportunities for genuine human connections, and supporting those experiencing chronic loneliness and anxiety.

Research involving over 794 workers across Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United States, across professions like biomedical engineering, real estate, and marketing, highlights the global scope of this issue.

Employees who frequently collaborate with AI report feelings of social deprivation and loneliness, especially among those with attachment anxiety, and often experience increased insomnia and alcohol use after work.

Despite attempts to connect with human coworkers, many still feel socially isolated, indicating that AI interactions may lack essential social cues.

Humans are biologically wired for social connection, and the absence of social cues in AI interactions can trigger social deficits, leading to anxiety and disengagement.

To counteract AI-related emotional challenges, fostering deeper human connections is essential, rather than relying solely on AI for social engagement.

Relying on AI systems for social interaction can lead to emotional dependence, making genuine human relationships even more critical for mental well-being.

Therapeutic approaches rooted in human relationships are crucial for healing attachment wounds and addressing deeper feelings of loneliness.

While AI can boost productivity, its emotional and social implications must be carefully considered to prevent negative effects on workplace dynamics.

Overall, AI's psychological consequences are significant, and understanding these effects is necessary to mitigate long-term social and emotional issues among workers.