It was coined in January by Tristan Harris at the Center for Humane Technology. He said it’s the “next evolution” of the extractive-tech model where companies use advanced technologies to commodify the human capacity to form attached bonds with other people and with pets.
"We're going to change every industry, please take us seriously"
produces a Tamagotchi
Hey c'mon, that's not a fair comparison. A tamagotchi actually has a screen.
OpenAI’s first-ever hardware device will be a battery powered, “humanlike” AI smart speaker designed to compete in the new Attachment Economy.
Where did the term “attachment economy” come from? It’s the most innovative and dystopian framing for emotional manipulation I’ve heard yet
It was coined in January by Tristan Harris at the Center for Humane Technology. He said it’s the “next evolution” of the extractive-tech model where companies use advanced technologies to commodify the human capacity to form attached bonds with other people and with pets.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-14/openai-s-... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48912757)