Afghan women turn to AI for friendship amid Taliban oppression

In Afghanistan, women have faced significant restrictions on their rights since the Taliban regained power in August 2021. Over 21 million women and girls have been affected by harsh regulations that limit their access to education, work, and freedom of movement. Girls are not allowed to study beyond the sixth grade, and women are prohibited from working, even in vital fields like midwifery. Additionally, social gatherings and public expressions of freedom, such as singing or speaking in public, are banned. The Taliban's policies have forced many women, like 18-year-old Lima from rural Afghanistan, to adapt by turning to artificial intelligence for companionship. Lima shares that she spends her mornings reading novels or chatting with AI, which provides her a way to express her thoughts and emotions. This reliance on AI reflects the deep sense of isolation and longing for connection that many women experience under the Taliban’s restrictive regime. Freshta, another Afghan woman interviewed, reported that she has not had a proper outing since the Taliban took over. She described the yearning for social interactions and mentioned that their activities are severely limited. This stark contrast to the past, when outings and family gatherings were part of their lives, illustrates the emotional toll the Taliban's rule has taken on women in Afghanistan. As the world is often focused on other global issues, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine or political tensions elsewhere, the plight of Afghan women remains largely overlooked. Nevertheless, accounts from these women, like those shared in a recent BBC podcast series, highlight their resilience and the impact of Taliban policies on their daily lives, underscoring a pressing need for awareness and advocacy in favor of their rights and freedoms.