The Attention Crisis: How leaders can fix focus and happiness in an AI Era - Psychologist Jonathan Haidt

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines how the rapid integration of smartphones, social media, and AI threatens human flourishing and mental health. The transition to digital-first lives has fragmented attention, disrupted cognitive development, and eroded the essential human relationships—with work, others, and meaning—that underpin genuine happiness. By prioritizing convenience and algorithmic engagement over necessary developmental challenges, current technology risks creating a generation incapable of deep focus or meaningful interaction. Addressing this crisis requires urgent legislative accountability for tech companies and a fundamental shift in personal digital habits, such as reclaiming morning routines from phone dependency. Furthermore, fostering civil discourse through moral psychology is essential to bridge the deep political polarization exacerbated by fragmented information ecosystems. Navigating this digital age demands intentionality, as reliance on AI shortcuts threatens to undermine the very foundations of human capital and collective well-being.