Mark Zuckerberg Suggested AI Avatars Could Be Your Friends, Hinge Founder Justin McLeod Says Meta CEO Is 'Playing With Fire'

Benzinga
2025.06.26 04:08
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Hinge founder Justin McLeod criticized Mark Zuckerberg's idea of AI avatars as friends, warning it could worsen loneliness. He described Zuckerberg's view as reductive, emphasizing that true friendship involves vulnerability and shared experiences. McLeod likened AI companionship to junk food, suggesting it could displace real human relationships. While he supports algorithmic tools for dating, he cautioned against relying on AI for emotional connections. Meta, which has introduced AI characters across its platforms, claims nearly a billion users interact with its assistants monthly.