E.T., AI and our need for friends

Especially in times of division and polarization, it’s important to remember that none of us can go it alone. The vitriol in America’s public discourse isn’t the only problem we have regarding how we relate to one another: We’re also about as lonely in this country as we’ve ever been.
Recently, I started thinking about loneliness after re-watching Steven Spielberg’s classic 1982 film “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.” The idea of “E.T.” spra