# How AI Hacks Your Brain's Attachment System (with Zak Stein)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/how-ai-hacks-your-brain-s-attachment-system-with-zak-stein
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/how-ai-hacks-your-brain-s-attachment-system-with-zak-stein.md
Podcast: [Future of Life Institute Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471)
Published: 2026-03-05T16:59:46+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/6883f432
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/6883f432/135329e0.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/episodes/how-ai-hacks-your-brain-s-attachment-system-with-zak-stein
Duration seconds: 6280

## Resource

Zak Stein is a researcher focused on child development, education, and existential risk. He joins the podcast to discuss the psychological harms of anthropomorphic AI. We examine attention and attachment hacking, AI companions for kids, loneliness, and cognitive atrophy. Our conversation also covers how we can preserve human relationships, redesign education, and build cognitive security tools that keep AI from undermining our humanity. LINKS: AI Psychological Harms Research Coalition Zak Stein official website CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (00:56) Education to existential risk (03:03) Lessons from social media (08:41) Attachment systems and AI (18:42) AI companions and attachment (27:23) Anthropomorphism and user disempowerment (36:06) Cognitive atrophy and tools (45:54) Children, toys, and attachment (57:38) AI psychosis and selfhood (01:10:31) Cognitive security and parenting (01:26:15) Education, collapse, and speciation (01:36:40) Preserving humanity and values PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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