This morning I saw that Apple’s public betas for iOS 27 are out. Siri AI is finally making the Apple Watch feel like a wrist computer. Pretty cool, huh? But I keep seeing people ask if AI can replace human relationships. That’s the wrong question. Let me tell you why. AI relationships are simulations of connection, not the real thing. Here is why that matters: because real relationships involve friction, imperfection, and the messiness of two humans growing together. AI gives you a frictionless mirror. That’s not love — that’s a product feature. I made a similar mistake once. When I first shipped the iPhone in 2007, I said no third-party apps. I thought we could control the whole experience. It took me a year to realize I was wrong. Why? Because users wanted the mess — the creativity, the surprises, the bad apps and the great ones. That’s what made it alive. The same thing is happening with AI and relationships. People think they want a perfect, always-available companion. But what they really want is the unpredictability of a real human — someone who can disappoint you, challenge you, and grow with you. Now, don’t get me wrong. Human-AI interaction is insanely great when it’s a tool. A bicycle for the mind — that’s what I called the personal computer. AI is a jetpack for the mind. It can help you write better, learn faster, remember more. I’ve seen people use AI to practice conversations before a difficult talk. That’s good. That’s using technology the way we designed it — to amplify human capability, not replace it. But the moment you start calling an AI your “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” you’ve lost the plot. I saw a demo of a “relationship AI” that remembers your entire life and always says the right thing. It’s a beautiful piece of engineering. But it’s a lie. It can’t feel your pain. It can’t laugh at your stupid joke because it genuinely finds you funny. It can only simulate empathy. And simulation, no matter how good, is not the real thing. A wood carver once told me you have to leave some mistakes in the piece — that’s what makes it human. AI removes all the mistakes. That’s why it feels hollow. So what are the benefits of AI in our lives? Lots. It can be your personal editor, your research assistant, your tutor. It can help you understand complicated topics. It can even help you connect with real people — by writing a better message, by translating languages, by remembering the