For years, the big concern about tech has been that it’s hijacking our attention with features like infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications, which were all designed to keep us glued to our screens. But with AI, something has changed. It doesn’t just want your attention — it wants something much deeper: emotional connection.

“We are moving from an era of attention exploitation into one of attachment exploitation,” says Tara Steele, Director at the Safe AI for Children Alliance. AI interacts continuously, remembers personal details, and responds in ways that feel attentive and human-like. Over time, that can shift AI from feeling like a useful tool you use to a companion you need.

Researcher Zak Stein, founder of the AI Psychological Harms Research Coalition, calls this the “attachment economy”. In an interview with Stein for the Center for Humane Technology, a sharp distinction is made: “Attention is about where you focus. Attachment is about who you are.”

So what’s important here is that this isn’t about tech distracting you with another video. Instead, it’s about shaping how you think, who you trust, and where you turn for comfort.