“If we are being tracked or surveilled, and there is a ubiquitous sense that we can be rescued, are we not fully internalizing that sense of our own capacity?” he said. “And ultimately, there will come a time when we do need to stand on our own two feet.”

Smartphones, AI, and internet overload wreck cognitive functions. But reading more—and changing how we read—could be the balm.

Las Vegas-based Realbotix offers four humanoid robot models with subscription-based interaction, aiming to address loneliness through AI companionship. Limited units will ship in 2027, presenting new social options for isolated communities.