Catholic University President Links AI Rise to Mental Health Crisis
Father Charles Sikorsky argues that artificial intelligence exacerbates existing identity and loneliness issues, urging a rethink of human connection.
Key points
- Father Charles Sikorsky warns that AI exacerbates identity crises and loneliness in modern society.
- A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory linked loneliness to health risks comparable to heavy smoking.
- Sikorsky argues that AI chatbots replace human connection with robotic interaction, deepening isolation.
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into daily life is fostering a mental health crisis that affects both adults and children, according to Father Charles Sikorsky, president of Divine Mercy University. Speaking at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., Sikorsky warned that AI is not merely a technological tool but a factor that deepens existing societal fractures in identity and human connection.
His remarks, reported by the Catholic Standard, align with the upcoming National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops highlights the ongoing mental health emergency, Sikorsky’s address serves as a critical commentary on how digital advancements may be undermining the psychological stability of the modern individual.
Identity crisis fueled by digital dependency
Sikorsky argues that a widespread sense of instability already exists in modern culture, driven by globalization, migration, and the decline of traditional religious adherence. He suggests that individuals, lacking firm roots, increasingly look outward for a sense of self. AI, he contends, feeds this void by offering an external source of stability and identity, thereby reinforcing a crisis of self-understanding rather than resolving it.
Loneliness epidemic worsened by chatbots
The president of Divine Mercy University describes AI as "social media on steroids," noting that while social platforms at least involved interaction with other humans, AI chatbots replace that with conversations with robots. This shift is particularly concerning given the documented epidemic of loneliness; a 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General stated that loneliness increases the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.
Despite the growing reliance on AI for companionship, Sikorsky emphasizes that human dignity and connection are not products of technological convenience. He cites Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" to argue that human worth is a gift that precedes and transcends individual abilities or choices, urging a return to the foundational truth that humans cannot live without genuine love.
