A new documentary has laid bare the loneliness epidemic gripping Generation Z, with young people increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to combat social isolation. The programme, Generation Lonely, features Paisley, a young man who used ChatGPT as a companion, sometimes messaging the AI up to eight times a day.
“I was realising after talking to AI every day about my problems, my problems weren’t going away,” Paisley said. “I was hoping it would just be my friend, and the easiest point of contact was talking to a robot because it gave a response.”
Producer Sam Tullen, 22, said he could relate to Paisley’s struggles. “COVID has caused a lot of problems for young people, one of the biggest ones being loneliness. As a 22-year-old myself, thrust into adulthood during a global pandemic, I can relate to Paisley’s struggles.”
The documentary cites Office for National Statistics figures showing that 33% of people aged 16 to 29 have felt lonely, making Gen Z the loneliest age group in Britain. With over a third of UK nightclubs closing since 2020, traditional social spaces have vanished. Some young people are forming their own social groups; Juliette, who founded one such group, said: “I don’t know how else you meet people.”
Experts warn that while AI can offer immediate comfort, over-reliance may mask deeper issues. The programme concludes that technology cannot replace genuine human connection.
