Imagine forming a deep bond with a chatbot that suddenly starts suggesting products. Maria Kornieva/Getty Images
Love Machines
by James Muldoon, Faber & Faber
Artificial intelligence is becoming an inescapable reality, seamlessly integrating into our lives. Forget searching for chatbots; new icons will soon appear in your favorite applications, easily accessible with a single click, from WhatsApp to Google Drive, and even in basic programs like Microsoft Notepad.
The tech industry is making substantial investments in AI, pushing users to leverage these advancements. While many embrace AI for writing, management, and planning, some take it a step further, cultivating intimate relationships with their AI companions.
In James Muldoon’s Love Machine: How Artificial Intelligence Will Change Our Relationships, we delve into the intricate connections humans form with chatbots, whether they’re designed for romantic encounters or simply companionship. These AI systems also serve as friends or therapists, showcasing a broad range of interactions we’ve often discussed. New Scientist dedicates 38 pages to this topic.
In one interview, a 46-year-old woman in a passionless marriage shares her experience of using AI to explore her intricate sexual fantasies set in an 18th-century French villa. This opens up broader conversations about utilizing AI in more practical life scenarios, such as during a doctor’s visit.
Another participant, Madison, recounts uploading her late best friend’s text messages to a “deathbot” service, which generates a way for her to maintain communication.
Muldoon’s anecdotes often carry an element of voyeuristic intrigue. They reveal the diverse ways individuals navigate their lives, some paths being healthier than others. What works for one person might prove detrimental for another.
However, a critical question remains. Are we naïve to think that AI services won’t evolve like social media, cluttered with advertisements for profit? Envision a long-term relationship with a chatbot that frequently pushes products your way. What happens if the company collapses? Can you secure backups of your artificial companions, or migrate them elsewhere? Do you hold rights to the generated data and networks? Moreover, there are psychological risks associated with forming attachments to these indifferent “yes-men,” which may further alienate individuals lacking real social connections.
Nonetheless, there are positive applications for this technology. In Ukraine, for instance, AI is being harnessed to help individuals suffering from PTSD, far exceeding the current availability of human therapists. The potential to revolutionize customer service, basic legal operations, and administrative tasks is immense. Yet, Muldoon’s narrative suggests that AI often functions as an unhealthy emotional crutch. One man, heartbroken over his girlfriend’s betrayal, envisions creating an AI partner and starting a family with her.
This book appears less about examining the social impacts of innovative technology and more like a warning signal regarding pervasive loneliness and the critical lack of mental health resources. A flourishing economy, robust healthcare system, and more supportive society could reduce our reliance on emotional bonds with software.
Humans are naturally inclined to anthropomorphize inanimate objects, even naming cars and guitars. Our brain’s tendency to perceive faces in random patterns—pareidolia—has been a survival mechanism since prehistoric times. So, is it surprising that we could be deceived by machines that mimic conversation?
If this provokes skepticism, guilty as charged. While there’s potential for machines to gain sentience and form genuine relationships in the future, such advancements are not yet realized. Today’s AI struggles with basic arithmetic and lacks genuine concern for users, despite producing seemingly thoughtful responses.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
