How to strengthen human connection in the age of artificial intelligence, with Alison Lee
How to strengthen human connection in the age of artificial intelligence, with Alison Lee
Social 01 April 2026
As unwanted loneliness among youth increases, we examine how digital platforms' design may be amplifying it and how to ensure it does not contribute to the problem.
What would prosocial technologies look like if human connection were the main objective?
In today’s digital era, fostering more responsible innovation has become increasingly urgent, as loneliness and mental health challenges continue to rise among children and adolescents. This raises an essential question: how can technology be intentionally designed to strengthen wellbeing and meaningful human connection?
In this episode of Do Better Talks, Liliana Arroyo, Director of the Chair for Socially Responsible Digital Innovation (SoReDi), and Alison Lee, Chief R&D Officer at The Rithm Project, explore how to create safer, more responsible digital spaces. Together, they reflect on the challenges of the digital age and discuss how innovation can better support young people.
The conversation also examines how online environments can both hinder vulnerability and foster connection, why young people are increasingly turning to AI for personal conversations, and how these shifts are reshaping human relationships.