You, Me, and AI: Are We Headed for Artificial Friendships?

Mark Zuckerberg just dropped a bold take on the future of friendship: your best friends might not be human. That’s not science fiction — it’s Meta’s current roadmap. In the past week alone, Zuckerberg has been on a whirlwind media tour, dropping vision after vision on how AI could soon be our go-to for emotional support, everyday conversation, even business deals.

Zuckerberg’s AI Agenda: Friends, Therapists, Agents

At last Stripe Sessions conference, Zuckerberg sat down with Stripe co-founder John Collison and explained that people are craving deeper social connections, and AI is the key to filling that gap. On another recent podcast, he put it bluntly:

“The average American has fewer than three close friends. But they want closer to 15.”

He believes AI companions, embedded in apps like Instagram, Messenger, and now Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, will not just fill that emotional void, but do so better than humans in some cases. Meta AI already serves nearly a billion users monthly across its products.

Zuck even hinted that AI agents will soon replace live support and sales reps, and that everyone will have a chatbot therapist at their side, not because it’s trendy, but because most people don’t have access to a real one.

So... is this where we're headed?

Dunbar’s Number and the Limits of Human Connection

Let’s zoom out.

In the 1990s, British anthropologist Robin Dunbar discovered a cognitive upper limit to the number of meaningful social relationships the human brain can handle. That number? 150.

The idea is simple: it takes real effort, memory, attention, and emotional investment to maintain a relationship. Dunbar's research broke it down further:

• 🫂 5 intimate relationships

• 👯‍♂️ 15 close friends

• 💬 50 meaningful connections

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 150 stable relationships

  
  

This model is surprisingly consistent across cultures, periods, and even military units and startup team sizes.

Now fast forward to 2025. A Pew Research study found that while Zuckerberg’s estimate might be a little low, 53% of Americans have 1-4 close friends, and 38% have 5 or more; the overall feeling of loneliness is rising, especially among Gen Z and Millennials.

So maybe the problem isn’t quantity, but quality… and access.

Real Loneliness, Real Demand

Let’s be real: social media platforms, including Meta’s own, have arguably contributed to today’s loneliness epidemic. Some critics say this AI wave feels like Big Tech’s version of “We broke it, now let us fix it... with bots.”

As former Instagram exec Meghana Dhar put it:

“The very platforms that have led to our social isolation... are now posing a solution.”

It’s giving “arsonist-turned-firefighter” energy. And yet, there’s nuance. Not everyone can afford a therapist. Not everyone has a group chat that checks in. In some cases, a chatbot is better than nothing.

Could AI Actually Expand Our Social Bandwidth?

What if AI doesn't just fill the gap, it extends it?

Unlike humans, AI Artificial Friendships? Don’t get tired, don’t hold grudges, and don’t need reciprocation. They can remember your preferences, offer tailored advice, even support you through hard times, all while taking zero cognitive load on your end.

Could AI expand Dunbar’s number? Or at least give us more support in those inner layers of intimacy?

Imagine having a few real friends and a few AI companions who know you deeply, can talk you through stress, help you prep for job interviews, or just vibe over music recs. That hybrid could be the future of mental wellness, productivity, and even dating.

So… Should You Look For AI Artificial Friendships?

For some, it’s a cool experiment. For others, it’s dystopian. But here’s the honest truth: AI friends are already here, and they’re only getting smarter, more emotionally aware, and more socially integrated. But in the end, it's still a machine.