“AI Threatens Our Ability to Listen: Australians Lose 338 Spoken Words Daily, Study Shows” — what this page in the network covers. As artificial intelligence tools like chatbots become more sophisticated, they promise faster responses and even “empathetic” listening—but this may come at a cost to genuine human connection. Shirleene Robinson argues that while we often worry about AI eroding writing skills, our greatest loss might be our ability to listen, a capacity integral to our humanity. Australians are conversing less every year.
A recent study shows that between 2005 and 2019, the average person lost 338 spoken words per day—a staggering total of about 120,000 fewer words spoken annually per person. This decline in everyday conversation means fewer opportunities to engage with different views and enter different worlds. The rise of AI-driven communication tools may accelerate this trend, as people turn to machines for quick, non-judgmental interactions. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.