​Psychological Impacts of AI on Vulnerable Groups: Should Our Children Be Using AI?

​Conversation Series: AI & Intimacy
This is the first session of a three-part series exploring how AI is reshaping intimacy: from psychological impacts, to hybrid human–machine experiences, to legal and regulatory challenges.

​This event is promoted by the AI Collective Consciousness Program in partnership with HeadOn.

​Children and adolescents, along with individuals who turn to therapy apps and virtual companions, are especially exposed to the risks of algorithmic intimacy.

In this session, we will examine how emotional attachment to AI can amplify loneliness, create affective dependency, and foster new forms of psychological vulnerability.

​The conversation will be led by our Resident Philosopher, Ana Catarina de Alencar, with a 30–40 minute talk, followed by an open discussion and Q&A.

​What You’ll Learn

• ​How AI companions and therapeutic apps shape emotional bonds and dependencies.

• ​Why children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to algorithmic intimacy.

• ​Why other groups such as the elderly, people with mental health struggles, or those experiencing social isolation are especially exposed, and what makes them vulnerable to these technologies.

• ​The psychological risks of emotional attachment to AI, ranging from loneliness to dependency.

• ​How these dynamics challenge our understanding of autonomy, care, and emotional resilience.

​Why This Topic Matters

​AI companions are not just harmless chatbots. They are reshaping how people connect, feel, and even love. While they may offer comfort and support, they also blur the line between care and control, raising urgent questions about dignity, autonomy, and trust.

​At stake is nothing less than our emotional sovereignty in the digital age.

​Learn from Ana Catarina de Alencar

​Ana Catarina de Alencar is an international lawyer and ethicist based in Paris, working directly on AI governance and compliance projects. She holds a Master’s in Philosophy and Technology of Law and is the author of Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Law (2022).

​She is a member of the Open Ethics AI Association and Women in AI Governance and is the Resident Philosopher at the AI Collective. She has also taught Political Philosophy, Digital Rights, GDPR, and AI Regulation at the university level. Recognized as an expert in technology regulation, she is a frequent speaker on AI, ethics, and European law.

​Event Details

​📅 Wednesday, October 29, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM GMT+2 (Paris, Berlin, Madrid)
📍 Live on Roam
📝 Registration is subject to host approval

​The AI Collective is a global non-profit community uniting 70,000+ pioneers – founders, researchers, operators, and investors – exploring the frontier of AI in major tech hubs worldwide. Through events, workshops, and community-led research, we empower the AI ecosystem to collaboratively steer AI’s future toward trust, openness, and human flourishing.

​All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective are subject to our Code of Conduct.