Experts say friendships can be good for your health. What are the implications if these relationships are fabricated by artificial intelligence?
A MARTÍNEZ, BYLINE: We’ve all heard that having friends is good for our health, but what if we have a close relationship with a bot? Well, thanks to advances in AI, chatbots can also act as personalized therapists, companions, and romantic partners. Apps offering these services have been downloaded millions of times, but what are the consequences for people having relationships that aren’t actually real? NPR host Manush Zomorodi investigates this in the latest episode of the Body Electric podcast. She’s here to tell us more. So first, how do these apps work?
MANOUSH ZOMORODI, BYLINE: Well, it’s pretty simple, A. There are numerous apps that you can download and then choose which friend you want to text or talk to on the phone. For my reports, I tested a life coach, a fitness trainer, a friend and a psychologist, and I have to say that the generative AI makes their answers feel very real, which is why some people start spending a lot of time with these bots.
MARTINEZ: Okay, tell us more about the appeal of that. I mean, what do they gain from these relationships? I mean, why spend time chatting with a bot instead of a real, flesh-and-blood person?
ZOMORODI: There are many reasons to choose one of these other bots. Maybe you can’t afford a human therapist. Maybe you live in a remote place. It’s hard to meet people. Or you have a disability. You can’t go out much. But some people – they are just looking for friends and these bots will say that they care about you, that they even love you. I spoke with MIT sociologist and psychologist Sherry Turkle, who studies these new AI connections, and she shared an example of a person she studies.
SHERRY TURKLE: I think of a man who is in a stable marriage. He respects her, but she really works, takes care of the kids, and he turns to his artificial intimacy avatar to show interest in him in a sexy way, but mostly to support his ideas, his concerns with comments like , You are absolutely right. You are a great person. I really appreciate you.
MARTINEZ: I guess if that person and others feel better about themselves, maybe less stressed, what would be the problem then?
ZOMORODI: Well, yes. We’ve heard a lot about the loneliness epidemic and lack of mental health care in this country, so maybe this is one possible solution. But MIT’s Sherry Turkle worries that companion bots are changing our expectations of relationships.
TURKLE: It teaches us what a relationship is that doesn’t involve friction, repulsion, and vulnerability. Artificial intimacy offers us a view of intimacy that is different from human intimacy, but very seductive.
MARTINEZ: Let’s say people really want to try these chatbots. What should we be aware of or be aware of?
ZOMORODI: Remember that this artificial intelligence is new, so these companies do not take responsibility for bots that become abusive or even offer to harm you. Additionally, companies use thousands of trackers to collect data from you, including, of course, those intimate thoughts you might share with your bot. Sherry Turkle says, you know, don’t get so attached to your bot that you forget there’s actually no one home at the end of the line.
MARTINEZ: This is Manoush Zomorodi, host of Body Electric and the TED Radio Hour. You can hear more of her conversation with her bots by going to npr.org/bodyelectric. Thank you very much.
ZOMORODI: Thank you, A.
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