We can’t help treating AI like it’s human. But should we?
We treat AI like it cares. Sherry Turkle on why that matters — and what it costs.
Why it matters
A foundational behavioral question for anyone deploying AI in production: humans anthropomorphize relational artifacts by design, creating care obligations that may shape adoption, trust, and organizational choices. Understanding this dynamic helps practitioners and leaders navigate the psychological and operational realities of AI integration.
The key facts
8 to knowSherry Turkle cited on anthropomorphization of AI systems
Core claim: humans are 'wired to care' for relational artifacts even when primitive
Published October 9, 2026 on TechCrunch
No quantitative data, deployment cases, or policy claims provided in excerpt
Source: Dr. Sherry Turkle (MIT, relational artifacts research)
Core claim: humans are 'wired' to reciprocate care toward AI systems in exchange interactions
Framed as opinion/commentary, not empirical study or deployment incident
Published Oct 9, 2026 on TechCrunch
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Publisher excerpt: "When we are drawn into even the most primitive exchanges with a relational artifact, we believe it cares for us," Dr. Sherry Turkle writes. "And we are wired to care for it in return."