EMOTIONAL WELLNESS with Dr. Mark Lerner
Emotional Wellness with Dr. Mark Lerner is a micro-audio podcast series focused on what you need to know—rather than what’s nice to know—for listeners worldwide.
The National Center for Emotional Wellness defines emotional wellness as the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of our feelings—and the ability to effectively manage challenges and change. It also reflects our capacity to sublimate: to harness painful emotional energy from adversity and channel it into action—not merely to survive, but to thrive.
The mission of the Center is to advance emotional well-being by integrating technology, evidence-based strategies, and the irreplaceable power of authentic human presence.
Grounded in AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness (AIEW), this series incorporates accessible, evidence-based information with the irreplaceable power of genuine human presence. It is designed for individuals, leaders, and diverse organizations navigating our increasingly complex and rapidly evolving technological world.
NationalCenterforEmotionalWellness.org
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS with Dr. Mark Lerner
When AI Feels Safer Than People
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An AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness™ Perspective
While AI can provide accessible, timely, practical information that can feel safer than human interaction, it will never replace the presence of another person. Technology can inform and ground us. Humanity can heal and sustain us.
The National Center for Emotional Wellness presents Emotional Wellness with Dr. Mark Lerner. When AI Feels Safer Than People, an AI Integrated Emotional Wellness Perspective. We are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence, not just for information, but to address problems in daily living. We're using AI to organize our thoughts, calm our anxiety, and address our fears. For some, interacting with AI has become a best friend and feel safer than communicating with people. This is not about technological advancement. It's about emotional exhaustion in our rapidly evolving technological world. We're experiencing information overload, infused with regular doses of conflict and adversity. We're not choosing AI because it understands us better than humans do. We're choosing it because AI doesn't judge, interrupt, minimize, or dismiss our feelings. It listens and reflects them. AI is always available, always accessible. It doesn't become overwhelmed and it doesn't diminish our feelings by telling us about someone else. Perhaps my greatest pet peeve. In a culture where many of us feel like a burden, this consistency feels safe. AI integrated emotional wellness refers to the interface between the cognitive abilities of artificial intelligence and the complexity and depth of human emotion. While AI can provide accessible strategies, tools, and support to promote emotional well-being, AI integrated emotional wellness recognizes a fundamental truth. Authentic face-to-face human presence is irreplaceable and essential for overcoming challenges and achieving emotional wellness. As I've shared repeatedly in other articles in the National Center's library, AI can't look at you with eyes filled with compassion. Hold your hand as your eyes pool with tears. Embrace you while you're crying. Convey warmth through presence without saying a word. Sit beside you and softly say, I'm here for you. When faced with challenges and change, we need other people. We need to be seen, heard, known, cared for, physically touched, and held by another human being. Someone who provides an empathic, warm, compassionate, genuine, and non-judgmental human connection. While AI can provide accessible, timely, practical information that can feel safer than human interaction, it will never replace the presence of another person. Technology can inform and ground us. Humanity can heal and sustain us. Thank you for listening to this program from the National Center for Emotional Wellness. To learn more about the center's accessible information, engaging presentations, and innovative consultation, visit National Center for Emotional Wellness dot org. Until next time, remember, technology informs us, humanity empowers us.