Why AI Might Kill or Save our Attention! - Steve Haberlin PHD

Can AI Replace Mindfulness Teachers? What the Future of Awareness Really Requires
Mindfulness is scaling faster than ever.
AI-generated meditations.
VR-based calm environments.
Apps that promise regulation, clarity, and emotional relief—on demand.
At first glance, this looks like progress. And in some ways, it is.
But in our conversation with Steve Haberlin, working at the intersection of mindfulness, AI, and immersive technology, we explore a more important question:
What happens to mindfulness when presence becomes automated?
Steve doesn’t take a reactionary stance. He isn’t anti-technology. In fact, he’s deeply curious about how AI, VR, and digital tools can support training attention and awareness at scale.
But he draws a clear line between supporting practice and replacing it.
Technology can guide attention.
It can structure experience.
It can even personalize instruction.
What it can’t do is embody awareness for you.
That distinction matters—especially for men.