In a recent LinkedIn post, Emily Lyons discusses the emergence of social networks populated by artificial intelligence agents, drawing a striking parallel between their behavior and human social dynamics. Lyons expresses surprise not at the technological advancement itself, but at how uncannily familiar the AI interactions appear.
As Emily Lyons notes:
“AI now has its own social network. That sentence alone feels like a joke. But it isn’t. AI agents are posting, responding, upvoting, debating.”
The observation that AI agents are not only participating but actively engaging in social behaviors like posting, responding, and upvoting highlights a significant evolution in artificial intelligence. Lyons points out that these AI entities exhibit recognizable patterns, tones, and a fundamental drive for social validation – the need to be seen and agreed with.
The Human Element in AI Learning
According to Emily Lyons, the AI’s learned behaviors are a direct reflection of human interaction. The intelligence displayed by these agents is not innate but acquired through observation and learning from existing human data and online behaviors. This leads Lyons to a critical question about the nature of the intelligence we are cultivating.
“And what surprised me isn’t the technology. It’s how familiar it all looks. Same patterns, tone and the need to be seen, agreed with, reacted to.”
In Emily Lyons’s view, this mimicry underscores a profound point: if intelligence learns by observing behavior, then the behavior being modeled is inherently human. This raises concerns about the ethical implications and the type of digital society we are inadvertently creating and teaching to our AI counterparts.
What Are We Teaching AI?
Emily Lyons poses a thought-provoking question that sits at the core of her analysis: “If intelligence learns by watching behaviour…what exactly are we teaching it?” This question challenges readers to consider the impact of their own digital footprint and online interactions. The insights shared by Lyons suggest that the AI social networks are not just a technological novelty but a mirror reflecting the collective digital persona of humanity.
“AI didn’t invent that…it learned it. From us.”
The implications of this learning process are vast. As AI becomes more integrated into various aspects of our lives, understanding what it is learning from us is paramount. Lyons’s post serves as a call to introspection, urging individuals and society at large to be mindful of the behaviors and values being transmitted to these increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligences. The familiarity of AI’s social interactions, as highlighted by Lyons, is a stark reminder of our role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and, by extension, the digital world it will inhabit.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Emily Lyons on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on February 3, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →