Choosing to live in a self-styled box.

100%. I read an article about a journalist who fell in love with his AI (yes, he was aware how "Her" that was) the other day and it was frightening. Not the "rise of AI", rather the decline of human interaction. Dating seems to me hard enough in this generation already without the interference of robots. Why on Earth would anyone face the disappointment and danger of meeting someone new for the first time, when they can just stay in a chat to the voice in their phone or wherever?

Scary times.

Thankfully, it's all within our control, as you point out. We can decide to put away the screen or to prioritize face-to-face real interactions over digital ones. Or not. :) Good on you for cleaning the garage!