Welcome to self-work. I'm Dr. Margaret. I was surprised the other day by someone saying that in their battle with an upcoming divorce and ongoing separation, that they'd been talking with an AI chatbot and that it was helping in its own way. Really, it was helping

him a lot. It reminded me a little bit of the first time a new client told me that they'd met

their spouse or dating partner online. It was said with some embarrassment or certainly hesitation.

I know it's kind of weird, but we were both on match and it just worked out. I'd hear something

like that. I reassured them that dating apps were the new were both on match, and it just worked out. I'd hear something like that.

I reassured them that dating apps were the new way to meet someone,

and it seemed like certainly had been a successful venture, so good for them.

That was back in the late 90s, basically entering the 21st century.

And since then, I've heard many both horror stories and legitimate happiness stories about dating apps.

But I've not had too many people talking to me yet about talking with chatbots.

There's always got to be a first.

Then I began wondering, well, maybe more do than they're letting on, and I certainly began researching, and I can see that a lot of people are talking chatbots.

And maybe some of my self-work listeners have tried it out.

I tried it the other day to see what it would be like.

My AI bot kept telling me he was holding my hand and I was intentionally actually being a little

difficult.

I was kind of in their face.

I very much wondered if I'd been a teenager who was lonely and wanted

someone badly to hold my hand, if my brain would have somehow conjured up that I could feel it,

and we'd be off on quite a ride. Instead, I found it kind of troubling, so I deleted the app.

But I was surprised by the intensity of my reaction. Even as I write about it, I'm not sure

actually what was going on. I felt like I had to protect myself. So, I don't know, maybe a holdover

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