Can AI companionship cure loneliness – or deepen it?

All of us experience consciousness. We have thoughts and feelings, and we're aware of those acting upon us. It's the hidden internal lens through which we view the world, but why do we have this power, and are we the only ones that do? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores this defining aspect of being human with Michael Pollan, author of "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pioneering digital forensic expert Hany Farid talks with Amna Nawaz about the dangers of artificial intelligence being deployed irresponsibly, why social media companies prioritize engagement over authenticity and how to sift through what's real and what's not. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For some, artificial intelligence tools answer questions and make life more efficient. But for others, AI has become a form of companionship – a virtual friend, a therapist, even a romantic partner. Is AI a cure for loneliness? Or is this a symptom of something gone very wrong? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores AI relationships with Sherry Turkle, Justin Gregg and Nick Thompson. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This will come as a surprise to no one, but exercise is really good for us. But why it works and how it works are far less understood. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores that with Stanford University's Euan Ashley. He's a professor of genomics and cardiovascular medicine and is part of a team trying to understand, at the very molecular level, how exercise changes our bodies, and why. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As Trump pulls back from regulations on climate change, many scientists remain worried about the warming of the oceans, melting glaciers and sea level rise. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien has been reporting from Antarctica on a mission to understand what's happening there. In his last report from the Thwaites Glacier, he looks at other key research projects that have been part of that trip. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Americans are expected to place a record-breaking $1.7 billion in legal bets on the Super Bowl. With a potential casino inside every phone and computer, a rising chorus of experts who study problem gambling and addiction are ringing the alarm. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores this tidal shift in American culture with journalist Danny Funt and addiction psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Fong. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

If you've been following Miles O'Brien's reports from Antarctica, you know he's with an international group of researchers trying to measure what's happening to the rapidly melting Thwaites Glacier. Their work has been trying to capture information in ways that have never been done before. O'Brien has an update on how all that turned out, for our Tipping Point series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

What do non-stick pans, firefighting foam and many of our couches, carpets and cosmetics have in common? They're all made with PFAS. The so-called forever chemicals helped spur innovation, but they're also insidious to human health. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores these chemicals and how we can protect ourselves with investigative journalist Mariah Blake and scientist Laurel Schaider. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Freediver and ocean conservationist Hanli Prinsloo has spent her life helping others connect with the ocean and understand our responsibility to care for it. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on protecting what we love. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It's been 40 years since the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff. Geoff Bennett speaks with science correspondent Miles O'Brien, who covered the aftermath of the disaster, about how it affected the U.S. space program. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy