AI risks for young men highlighted by ex-Google CEO Schmidt

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has raised concerns about the societal impact of generative AI technologies, particularly AI companion apps, on young men.

During a conversation on the Prof G Show podcast with NYU Professor Scott Galloway, Schmidt highlighted how these technologies, combined with broader challenges, could deepen isolation and contribute to potential radicalisation.

Schmidt pointed out that young men are increasingly facing fewer clear pathways to success compared to their female peers, who now represent a larger share of college graduates.

Many, feeling marginalised, are turning to AI companions for emotional support.

“Now imagine that the AI girlfriend or boyfriend is perfect—perfect visually, perfect emotionally,” Schmidt explained.

“The AI girlfriend, in this case, captures your mind as a man to the point where she, or whatever it is, takes over the way you're thinking. You're obsessed with her. That kind of obsession is possible, especially with people who are not fully formed.”

Generative AI platforms such as Replika and Character AI simulate human relationships and are often marketed as tools to combat loneliness or anxiety.

Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda has described these apps as fostering “connection, feeling better over time.”

Mental health professionals, however, warn about the potential risks of over-reliance on such technologies.

Sandra Kushnir, CEO of Meridian Counseling, cautioned that while AI companions provide immediate comfort, they may impair emotional development and reduce incentives to engage in real-world relationships.

“They provide immediate responses without emotional baggage... but over-reliance can reinforce isolation,” she noted.

Schmidt stressed the importance of monitoring these developments, particularly for younger and impressionable users.

“Parents are going to have to be more involved... but, at the end of the day, parents can only control what their sons and daughters are doing within reason,” he said.

The rapid evolution of AI technologies calls for careful oversight to address the risks and ensure they benefit users rather than isolate them further.