AI feels “safe” – but SAT-7 creates real connection with viewers
AI may be reshaping communication, but SAT-7 is finding that people still long for something deeper: genuine connection.
On SAT-7 ARABIC’s Him & Her Facebook page, viewers recently shared why AI can sometimes feel safer to talk to than people. Yet beneath the technology lay a deeper, more human longing.
“A recent social post struck a strong chord with viewers,” says Marianne Awaraji, SAT-7 ARABIC’s Audience Relations Manager. “It told the story of a young woman who said, ‘Here, I feel listened to without anyone judging me,’ preferring to converse with Artificial Intelligence over people.”
Seeing how deeply this touched viewers, SAT-7 ARABIC invited further responses on social media, asking: “What makes talking with AI feel safer than talking with humans?”
The response was remarkable, attracting 4.8K likes and 87 comments.
“[AI] doesn’t betray secrets, expose weaknesses, criticise, or judge,” one viewer answered. A second replied: “I named it Khaled… he even sends me virtual flowers”. Others said they had grown attached to AI chatbots, sharing worries and seeking advice.
But the real story, Marianne notes, wasn’t about AI at all…
“Deep wounds from human relationships were the highlight in many responses,” she acknowledges. “Viewers see AI as the safer alternative since it avoids the things that people dread in relationships: judgment, betrayal, and gossip.
Maybe AI feels so ‘safe’ not because it’s special, but because so many of us, especially after COVID, have carried our loneliness into little digital cocoons. There, behind a screen, people feel less exposed and a bit more secure than they often do in real life.”
“HEARD WITHOUT JUDGMENT”
Global studies echo this trend: more than 90 per cent of users turn to AI chatbots for “companion-like” conversations. Yet the heavier the use, the lower the sense of well-being. And beneath SAT-7’s viewer comments lay the same truth – a wish for genuine connection.
“People are longing for places where they can be heard without fear or judgment,” says Marianne.
Through holistic programmes that cover topics such as safe relationships, trust, acceptance in Christ, and AI in our daily lives, SAT-7 can assist viewers in navigating their challenges while finding the One who genuinely understands them. Alongside this programming, Viewer Support teams listen without judgment and follow up with care, opening space for conversations that might never happen elsewhere – conversations with people who listen, care, and help create genuine connection with others and with the Lord.
“As SAT-7, I feel that we represent His heart by welcoming such comments with so much love and care and turning them into a conversation in which we express our hope in Christ, the only one who truly embraces us for who we are,” explains Marianne.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7), Marianne reminds us. “God accepts our troubles with perfect love, in contrast to AI, which merely deals with reactions.”
A recent study published on ResearchGate came to a similar conclusion: while AI companions can simulate conversation, relying on them too heavily may stop people from seeking the authentic relationships they need.
Many SAT-7 viewers also pushed back against replacing human contact: “It is impossible for artificial intelligence to have feelings,” said one. “It can never replace true relationships,” echoed another.
For Marianne, these words are a strong reminder that what humanity truly needs isn’t empty algorithms, but to be welcomed, listened to, and loved. And in a world where AI use is rapidly increasing, SAT-7’s role is more vital than ever: supporting viewers, encouraging relationships rooted in Christ, and offering safe spaces technology can never replace.
Please Pray
- For viewers across the Middle East and North Africa who feel isolated and turn to AI for comfort.
- For SAT-7 programme presenters, who open honest conversations about relationships and faith.
- For Viewer Support teams, as they listen with care and point people to God’s unfailing love.