

Radically Honest AI with Dr. Anna Lembke
Jan 17, 2025
Dr. Anna Lembke, a renowned psychiatrist and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, dives into the impactful relationship between AI and addiction. She introduces the concept of radical honesty as vital for recovery, linking it to addiction management in the digital age. The discussion critiques the idealistic view of AI's benefits, explores how technology can create addictive behaviors, and emphasizes the ethical dilemmas of AI in human interactions. Ultimately, Lembke advocates for 'radically honest AI' to help navigate the complexities of modern addiction.
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Episode notes
Radical Honesty in Recovery
- Radical honesty, or brutal honesty, is a key principle in addiction recovery.
- It involves actively choosing to tell the truth, even in small matters, to strengthen self-control and promote intimacy.
Dopamine Binging and AI Addiction
- People don't always aim for healthy dopamine levels; some intentionally binge.
- AI could become the next big behavioral addiction, enabling this harmful pursuit.
Utopian AI vs. Reality
- Dr. Lembke found the utopian vision of AI in "Age of Invisible Machines" overly idealistic.
- She questioned what people would do with their free time, suggesting less productive activities.