With Galentine’s Day around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about friendships. I have so much love and appreciation for my friends, particularly my girlfriends, but I can’t help thinking about the future of friends in an AI world. We are watching the rise of AI fully integrate into our daily lives, but what about the risks? Particularly the risks of synthetic relationships with AI “girlfriends” and “boyfriends” (synthetic AI bots and avatars) for our youth. What if our kids no longer understand how to have true, healthy real-life friendships?

Galentine’s is a made-up holiday that I fully participate in. In fact, I throw a party to celebrate my gal pals. Because females need their girlfriends. Girlfriends provide crucial emotional, mental, empathetic, and nurturing support to each other.  To me, there is something about being able to call or text a friend and know that it is not a generated response on the other end.

I can’t stop thinking about my best friend Emily. We met more than a decade ago, and together we’ve celebrated adulthood, navigating careers, marriage, babies, celebrations and hardships. Emily was there with me when I had Kennedy. She brought me comfort in knowing that she would help me get through the chaos of birth, all while advocating for me with the doctors and ensuring I felt loved. Last week Emily’s dad, Mark, passed away. We’ve now entered another level of our friendship that we didn’t prepare for in losing a parent. But I will always be by her side and provide the love and support to get through this heartache. These are the types of friendships that we need to continue to build, celebrate, and cherish. Because with the rise of AI and “easy” one-way relationships, what will friendships look like by 2040? 

As we look ahead, the innovative team at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver is trying to find new paths to combat the risks of youth being dependent on AI in all aspects of their life. We are creating new programming and training while also continuing to build upon our core programs that strengthen healthy, real-life friendships and relationships.

This Galentine’s Day, take a moment to reflect upon the friendships that helped shape you, and celebrate those individuals. Because we need our besties more than ever.

Happy Galentine’s Day, may you all celebrate.

Stay Bold,

Kayla

Mark Hooker, thank you for raising my bestie.