The Future of Intimacy

Artificial Intelligence

Psychology Is Preparing for Yesterday's AI

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on September 9, 2026

Personal Perspective: Therapists are beginning to talk about chatbots. I'm afraid we're already behind.

Personal Perspective: Therapists are beginning to talk about chatbots. I'm afraid we're already behind.

Sex

Is "Mercy Sex" Such a Bad Thing?

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on August 31, 2026

We admire generosity almost everywhere in relationships. Why are we so suspicious of it when it comes to sex?

We admire generosity almost everywhere in relationships. Why are we so suspicious of it when it comes to sex?

Artificial Intelligence

Big Tech Believes in You

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on August 6, 2026

Personal Perspective: Meta's new ad says it believes in people. So do the companies selling you the cure for the loneliness they created.

Personal Perspective: Meta's new ad says it believes in people. So do the companies selling you the cure for the loneliness they created.

Artificial Intelligence

Therapy in the Age of AI: What We Can Actually Do

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on July 11, 2026

Therapists have options. But none of them are available if we aren't looking honestly at the problem.

Therapists have options. But none of them are available if we aren't looking honestly at the problem.

Therapeutic Alliance

4 Things the Therapy Profession Ignores About Its Own Future

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on June 29, 2026

Fundamental shifts in mental health care are unfolding in real time, yet we respond with silence.

Fundamental shifts in mental health care are unfolding in real time, yet we respond with silence.

Psych Careers

Therapists Ignore AI at Their Own Peril

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on June 7, 2026

Therapists keep being reassured that AI won't affect their jobs. The data suggests we reconsider this platitude.

Therapists keep being reassured that AI won't affect their jobs. The data suggests we reconsider this platitude.

Artificial Intelligence

What the AI Booing Was Really About

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on May 31, 2026

AI is rapidly reshaping every profession, but the real casualty may not be our jobs. It may be our sense of purpose and meaning.

AI is rapidly reshaping every profession, but the real casualty may not be our jobs. It may be our sense of purpose and meaning.

Personal Perspectives

AI Agents Are Coming for Your Sex Life

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on May 14, 2026

Personal Perspective: AI agents are poised to transform human sexuality in ways most people haven't imagined. We need to start paying attention.

Personal Perspective: AI agents are poised to transform human sexuality in ways most people haven't imagined. We need to start paying attention.

Therapy

AI Is Coming for Psychotherapy

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on May 6, 2026

In almost 30 years of practice, I've never had to compete with something that never sleeps, never judges, and never charges for a missed session. Until now.

In almost 30 years of practice, I've never had to compete with something that never sleeps, never judges, and never charges for a missed session. Until now.

Sex

Chatbot "Relationships" Address Romance's Biggest Challenge

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on April 28, 2026

AI companions can keep the spark alive indefinitely. Before we celebrate that, we need to talk about what that means.

AI companions can keep the spark alive indefinitely. Before we celebrate that, we need to talk about what that means.

Artificial Intelligence

Let's Rethink the "Doomer" Label

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on April 14, 2026

Personal Perspective: Let's encourage honest conversations about what we want for the future of humanity, without labeling concerns as "doomer" talk.

Personal Perspective: Let's encourage honest conversations about what we want for the future of humanity, without labeling concerns as "doomer" talk.

Artificial Intelligence

What Happens When We Depend on AI Instead of Each Other?

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on March 26, 2026

Some of us are outsourcing our emotional lives to AI at a speed that outpaces our ability to understand what we're giving up—and the longer we wait, the harder it will be to stop.

Some of us are outsourcing our emotional lives to AI at a speed that outpaces our ability to understand what we're giving up—and the longer we wait, the harder it will be to stop.

Artificial Intelligence

When AI Offers More Wisdom Than Humans

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on March 8, 2026

We're teaching machines to be kinder than we are to each other. That should terrify us.

We're teaching machines to be kinder than we are to each other. That should terrify us.

Sex

What Porn, Affairs, and Early Romance Teach Us About Desire

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on January 27, 2026

The safety offered in long-term relationships can quietly diminish passion. Here’s what you can do about it.

The safety offered in long-term relationships can quietly diminish passion. Here’s what you can do about it.

Artificial Intelligence

Are We Seriously Talking About Conscious AI?

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on December 2, 2025

We built AI to think like us, but what happens when we feel intimately connected to it?

We built AI to think like us, but what happens when we feel intimately connected to it?

Artificial Intelligence

When AI Companions Feel Safer Than Human Connection

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on November 19, 2025

What if romantic and sexual relationships with chatbots aren’t an escape, but a smart defense in a world where compassion seems less accessible than rage?

What if romantic and sexual relationships with chatbots aren’t an escape, but a smart defense in a world where compassion seems less accessible than rage?

Sex

When Technology Makes Human Sex Feel Boring

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on October 24, 2025

What happens when our oldest instincts meet our newest technologies?

What happens when our oldest instincts meet our newest technologies?

Sex

Why We Dodge 'the Sex Talk' While Porn Teaches Kids Intimacy

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on October 2, 2025

Parents avoid sex talks due to discomfort, fear, and cultural taboos—even as kids see porn young.

Parents avoid sex talks due to discomfort, fear, and cultural taboos—even as kids see porn young.

Artificial Intelligence

What Smart Glasses Reveal (and Conceal)

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on September 23, 2025

Smart glasses are reshaping the experience of being in public. Will they result in more privacy, trust, and consent concerns, and even fuel social anxiety?

Smart glasses are reshaping the experience of being in public. Will they result in more privacy, trust, and consent concerns, and even fuel social anxiety?

Genetics

Incoming: New Era of Child Choosing Approaches

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on September 19, 2025

In Silicon Valley, "designer embryos" are redefine parenting—will you be next?

In Silicon Valley, "designer embryos" are redefine parenting—will you be next?