Loneliness
Updated November 9, 2026
Loneliness is the painful feeling that your relationships don't give you the connection you want, whether or not other people are around.
Loneliness is about the gap between the connection you have and the connection you want. You can feel lonely in a full office and content on your own, which is why it differs from being alone or from social isolation. It often comes in stretches tied to change, like a move, a breakup or a new job.
AI companions are one thing people try during those stretches. Hallie, for example, texts you in iMessage or Google Messages and checks in. An AI can be company, but it isn't a treatment for loneliness and it can't replace the people in your life.