The Know Daily - Wednesday 8 April 2026

_{Read in 4m 07s ∙ Listening to Bailey Zimmerman ∙}

The video of the Artemis II crew naming a fresh lunar crater after Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife is so sweet – the group hug at the end 🥹

🤖 Digital empathy

We’re used to thinking of AI as a tool – something we search with, like Google. But new research suggests younger people are starting to treat it more like something they talk to.

What is “digital empathy”?
It’s the idea that people are beginning to apply human social behaviours to machines. According to new UK polling by Heywa, around 1 in 5 Gen Z and Millennials regularly say “please” and “thank you” when using tools like ChatGPT. Psychologist Kate Nightingale describes this as a shift towards “digital empathy” – where interacting with AI starts to feel more like a conversation than a command.

What else is changing?
As reported by Forbes, the initial expectation of AI was that it would make day-to-day tasks easier and foster efficiency. But according to a Harvard Business Review report, therapy and companionship was the number one use for AI last year. Teen Vogue has also reported that 72% of teens have used AI companions at least once. Basically, that line between simulated and IRL relationships has started to blur.

What’s driving this?
Part of it is the way AI works. Unlike traditional search engines, it responds instantly and conversationally, making it feel more natural to engage with. But it also reflects a wider shift in expectations. People are used to personalised feeds, short-form content and on-demand answers – so they’re increasingly looking for information that is interactive, tailored and easy to navigate. 

Is there a downside?
Even small interactions with AI require energy. Data centres powering tools like chatbots consume significant electricity, so adding extra prompts – even polite ones – contributes to that footprint. There’s also a broader question about how this shapes behaviour. The Conversation reports that the immediately satisfying nature of relationships with chatbots can form an addictive effect.

Will this change how we behave online?
It already is. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday life, the line between tool and companion is starting to blur. Saying “thank you” to a chatbot might seem trivial, but it signals something bigger – that people are beginning to relate to technology in more human ways. You can even take a quiz to work out what your “online language” is. (I’m a “Moodboard Visualist” in case anyone is wondering!)

👩‍🎓 Interest on student loans will be capped at 6% from September, the UK government has revealed. 

• The bigger story: This is a temporary measure to protect graduates from the risk of rising inflation. The move comes after ministers have faced increasing criticism about the loans that can leave former students in England and Wales paying tens of thousands more than the original loan amount. Whilst organisations like the National Union of Students have welcomed the promise, they say it doesn’t do enough to address deeper issues with the student finance system.

🇮🇷 A two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US has been announced, with the condition that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened to allow the trade of ~20% of the world’s oil and natural gas. 

✈️ Europe’s Entry/Exit system is set to roll out on 10 April – here’s everything you need to know before travelling.

🍞 Gene-edited wheat is being developed by scientists in an effort to make bread that’s less carcinogenic when toasted. 

👩🏻‍🎤 A new exhibition in London will offer an immersive experience and insight into the “creative curiosity” of a famous British artist. 

🚰 Microplastics in drinking water are set to be tackled through a new US government project, marking an encouraging step towards cleaner, safer water supplies.

📸 Iceland is giving away an all-expenses-paid trip to “bad photographers” (yep, you read that right!).

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Trivia answer: A) Greggs will launch a new product on Thursday, following the success of vegan and sausage options.

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