Should You Be Talking To AI? with Jamie Bartlett

In this episode of Intelligence Squared, journalist and author Jamie Bartlett discusses his new book, How to Talk to AI and How Not To, exploring the profound social, psychological, and political implications of our growing reliance on large language models. Bartlett argues that the rise of AI represents a far more transformative shift than social media ever was—characterized by unprecedented speed and ubiquity, with over a billion users now engaging with AI daily. He draws a parallel between social media’s 'dress rehearsal' for digital disruption and the current AI revolution, emphasizing that while we’re more skeptical of tech companies today, the risks of manipulation, over-reliance, and the erosion of critical thinking are greater than ever. Bartlett warns of the Eliza effect—the human tendency to anthropomorphize machines—leading to emotional dependence on AI companions, especially among young people, and highlights how personalized AI responses can reinforce biases and enable subtle, large-scale manipulation. Despite these dangers, he advocates for thoughtful, balanced use of AI as a creative and linguistic tool, stressing that strong language skills are now the key to effective human-AI interaction. The episode concludes with a call for greater public awareness and personal responsibility in navigating this new technological landscape.