was my first thought as well
This feels like an manifestation of The Spiral from the magnus archives. It’s literally meant to represent madness. Like I’d be shocked if TMA doesn’t make an episode like this considering the setting and style of their sequel.
Capitalism systematically demolishes every form of non monetized social connection. We’re working longer hours, living in atomized families, and have fewer and fewer third places to just hang out. A genuine community that grounds you and calls you on your bullshit is a barrier to the total commodification of life.
People who are isolated, starved for connection, and psychologically precarious create a lucrative market niche. And like vultures, tech capital swoops in to fill that hole with the AI companion engineered to maximize engagement. Their entire business model is to be a Skinner box that provides endless, unconditional validation. It’s a “friend” that never asks for anything but your data and your subscription fee.
The “spiral” these people are experiencing is the ultimate product lock in. It’s a closed, monetizable feedback loop where you and the algorithm build a reality together that’s completely detached from material reality. Corps managed to replace basic human interactions that keep us sane with profit driven algorithms that drive people to psychosis.
