As the COVID-19 pandemic ushers in a new era of remote communication, machines are being programmed to mimic the way humans make friends, grow intimate and fall in love. In this compelling talk from our Curiosity Lecture series, evolutionary biologist Rob Brooks (Artificial Intimacy: Virtual Friends, Digital Lovers and Algorithmic Matchmakers) explains how these artificially intimate devices can help us make friendships in a world of cognitive overload, stay close in a time of isolation and feel better despite the rising rate of mood disorders.