AI and the Quiet Cost of Convenience
Artificial intelligence has changed how we find answers. That part is obvious. What’s less obvious — and talked about far less — is what we may be losing in the process.
There’s an unintended consequence of AI that has nothing to do with accuracy, security, or jobs. It has to do with human connection.
When I was young, I relied heavily on my parents and older brother — especially my father — for answers to everyday questions. How something worked. What tool to use. Why something failed. Those questions weren’t just about information. They were a reason to talk, to listen, to learn how someone else thought.
My wife would call her mother, aunts, or older sister for advice — parenting questions, housekeeping tips, recipes, or just reassurance. Information flowed through relationships. Needing an answer gave you a reason to reach out.
That exchange did something important.
It kept people connected.
Information sharing acted like a bridge to your personal network. You didn’t just get an answer — you had a conversation. You exchanged ideas. You reinforced bonds. Sometimes you laughed. Sometimes you disagreed. But the connection stayed alive.
Even neighbors used to stay connected the same way. Someone would knock on the door to ask about a lawn issue, a leaking pipe, a strange noise in the furnace, or which electrician or plumber was worth calling. That simple question often turned into a ten-minute conversation on the porch or driveway. You didn’t just get an answer — you reinforced familiarity, trust, and community. Those small exchanges were the difference between living next to someone and actually knowing them.
AI quietly changes that.
When answers no longer require people
Today, many of those same questions go straight to AI.
How long do I cook this roast?
What’s wrong with my heater?
What does this symbol mean?
Is this claim historically accurate?
The answer comes back instantly — clear, structured, and usually correct. There’s no need to interrupt anyone’s day. No awkward timing. No obligation. No follow-up.
That convenience is real. And it’s powerful.
But it also removes one of the most natural reasons people used to reach out to one another.
A small moment that made me stop and think
Recently, I came across an antique and reached out to a good old friend of mine who I have not seen in a long time for his opinion. He’s someone with deep experience and knowledge in antiques.
That call did more than help identify what I had found.
We caught up. We laughed. We reconnected. He shared his thoughts. I listened. He gave me information, and in a quiet, unspoken way, I now “owed” him something — not in obligation, but in friendship. That’s how relationships work. Give and take. Time and trust.
After the call, though, a thought crossed my mind.
I could have just uploaded a photo of the item to AI.
So I did.
AI noticed a very small but significant detail that we hadn’t discussed — a detail that made a meaningful difference in understanding what it was. The information AI gave me was simply more complete.
What AI gives — and what it takes
AI gives:
- speed
- accuracy
- depth
- independence
But it can quietly take:
- conversation
- reciprocity
- reasons to stay in touch
In the past, needing information kept relationships alive. It created natural excuses to call someone, ask for help, or share expertise. Those exchanges weren’t transactional — they were social glue.
AI doesn’t need favors returned.
It doesn’t need checking in.
It doesn’t strengthen bonds.
And if we’re not careful, it can replace more than just questions — it can replace connection.
This isn’t an argument against AI
I’m not suggesting we abandon AI. That would be foolish. The benefits are too real and too useful. AI doesn’t make someone smarter overnight or raise their baseline IQ.
It makes them more informed and knowledgeable over time.
But I do think we need to be intentional.
Just because AI can answer a question doesn’t always mean it should be the first place we go. Sometimes the slower path — calling a friend, asking a parent, sharing a problem — is doing something more important than delivering information.
It’s maintaining the invisible threads that hold relationships together.
The real choice going forward
AI will continue to get better. Faster. Smarter. More precise.
The question isn’t whether it will replace information sharing — it already has.
The question is whether we allow it to replace human exchange as well.
Because the world doesn’t run on answers alone.
It runs on relationships.
And sometimes, the value isn’t in the information you receive —
it’s in the connection you preserve by asking for it.
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