In this episode of Therapy Is Dope with Alicia & Laura, we’re joined by journalist Jacob Ward, author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back, for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about artificial intelligence—and what it’s doing to the human nervous system, attachment, and brain development.
Rather than focusing on dystopian hype or tech worship, this episode explores AI through a relational and psychological lens. We unpack how constant interaction with responsive, emotionally validating technology can subtly shape attachment patterns. What happens when regulation, reassurance, curiosity, or even companionship are increasingly outsourced to machines?
Jacob brings deep insight into how AI is designed to mirror human connection, why that’s so compelling to our brains, and where the ethical fault lines lie. Together, we discuss:
How AI may influence attachment styles and relational expectations
The impact of AI engagement on suffering and personal growth
What nervous systems evolved for human connection do with always-available, non-human “relationships”
How clinicians, parents, and communities can stay intentional without fear-mongering
This episode isn’t about rejecting technology—it’s about becoming more conscious of how it intersects with our biology, psychology, and need for real connection. If you’re a therapist, parent, educator, or simply someone navigating life in an increasingly AI-mediated world, this conversation invites you to slow down, zoom out, and ask better questions about how we stay human in the process.
If you like this content, like and subscribe! If you want to learn more about Jacob Ward:
Website: jacobward.com
Newsletter: Ripples on Substack – in-depth reporting on how technology shapes human systems
Social Media:
X / Twitter: @jacobward
LinkedIn: Jacob Ward
