#359 My Best Friend is AI with Valerie Tiberius, Professor of Philosophy at University of Minnesota

Valerie Tiberius is the Paul W. Frenzel Chair in Liberal Arts and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota. She is an expert in ethics, moral psychology, and well-being, and the author of five books including What Do You Want Out of Life? and the forthcoming Artificially Yours: Real Friendship in a World of Chatbots (Princeton University Press, May 2026). She previously served as President of the Central Division of the American Philosophical Association.

In the episode, Richie and Valerie explore the purpose of friendship and whether AI can replicate it, the benefits and risks of chatbot companions for loneliness, how sycophantic AI responses distort advice and self-perception, the dangers of companion chatbots for children's social development, designing ethical AI companions that promote human flourishing, the zone of proximal development as a framework for better AI tools, and much more.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

• Artificial Intimacy by Sherry Turkle
• Being You: A New Science of Consciousness by Anil Seth
• Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders
• Hard Fork podcast (NYT)
• Connect with Valerie
• AI-Native Course: Intro to AI for Work
• Related Episode: #342 — "The Secrets to High AI Adoption" with Stefano Puntoni, Professor at Wharton

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