AI impacts student mental health and global e-commerce trends

Artificial intelligence is significantly impacting both social welfare and global commerce. In Prague, research by the Center for Social Services Prague reveals that one in four students facing psychological distress turns to AI as their first point of contact before seeking human help. These students often exhibit higher levels of anxiety and depression. The study notes that while AI is attractive due to its immediate availability and non-judgmental nature, it cannot replace professional human support.

In the economic sector, AI is transforming e-commerce through the rise of agentic commerce. AI shopping agents are increasingly capable of handling complex purchasing tasks, with Morgan Stanley estimating these assistants could account for $190 billion to $385 billion in U.S. e-commerce spending by 2030. This shift is changing how consumers discover products, moving from traditional search engines to conversational AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. This evolution poses challenges for traditional retailers, as AI agents may prioritize specific recommendations, potentially narrowing the visibility of many online stores.

Additionally, nine Central and Eastern European nations, including the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, have signed the Prague Declaration to cooperate on AI infrastructure. This includes efforts to build AI gigafactories and data centers to ensure the region remains competitive in research, development, and technological implementation.