When AI Listens

When was the last time you felt listened to? 

I mean, really listened to. The "put your phone in a different room, set aside time, quiet all distractions" type of listening.

The type of listening that has no other agenda than to be present. 

Because this is what chatbots are offering. And part of why they are alluring is because we have lost the art of listening. 

I'm not saying chatbots should be compared 1:1 to humans, because we are not always-on and always-available. But I am saying the ache to be seen, known, and understood is being tapped into by chatbots. They are filling a void, for hundreds of millions. 

So instead of designing them as a destination, how can we build them as a bridge? 

How can we develop them as the rehearsal ground for the skills required for navigating human relationships?

What if they taught us how to listen better?
What if they spurred our patience?
What if they were training ground for conflict resolution?

And what if all that practice actually brought back the art of listening and relating with one another on a societal level?