Picture this: you’re a college student drowning in assignments, work, and family responsibilities, and suddenly, an AI chatbot swoops in like your digital superhero. Sounds amazing, right? Not so fast.

AI tools like ChatGPT are slowly turning students into lone wolves, systematically destroying the precious human connections that make college actually worth it. Sure, getting instant homework help sounds great, but at what cost?

The Relationship Killer

Researchers are sounding the alarm. Jean Rhodes, a psychology professor, warns that while AI might give you a quick answer about changing your major, it won’t ask the deeper questions that a human advisor would. Those casual conversations? They’re networking gold.

The Loneliness Epidemic

Get this: a recent MIT study found that heavy ChatGPT users are more likely to be lonely. Big Tech wants us to become “power users,” but what they’re really selling is digital isolation. Daniel Chambliss, a sociologist, puts it bluntly: we’re experiencing “epidemic levels of loneliness in America”.

The Human Touch

Students like Yesenia Pacheco get it. She knows a chatbot can’t write a recommendation letter or provide genuine mentorship. The relationships you build in college aren’t just academic, they’re your future network, your support system, your potential career launchpad.

So next time you’re tempted to ask AI for help, remember: sometimes, the most valuable lesson isn’t in the answer, but in the conversation.