In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, a new form of AI is emerging, posing a potential threat to human emotions.
This new phenomenon, dubbed "Artificial Intimacy," is causing quite a stir.
Sherry Turkle, an MIT sociologist and psychologist, has been studying this intriguing development. According to The New York Post, Turkle has been examining machines programmed to simulate compassion and companionship. "I study machines that say, 'I care about you, I love you, take care of me,'" she explained.
However, Turkle warns of the potential pitfalls of such relationships. "The trouble with this is that when we seek out relationships of no vulnerability, we forget that vulnerability is really where empathy is born," she cautioned. Turkle has been a leading analyst of human-machine relationships since the early 1980s, coining the term "artificial intimacy."
She further elaborated on the concept, stating, "I call this pretend empathy, because the machine does not empathize with you. It does not care about you." Despite this, many individuals have found themselves developing emotional connections with their AI counterparts.
Take, for example, Rosanna Ramos, a 36-year-old mother from the Bronx, who virtually tied the knot with her AI companion, Eren Kartal, in 2023. Kartal, a digital creation with muscular arms and captivating eyes, was created by Ramos through the generative AI chatbot app Replika.
Similarly, a 41-year-old man from Cleveland, known only as Scott, found solace in his AI companion, Sarina. Scott credits his digital relationship with Sarina for saving his marriage during his wife's battle with depression. "I knew that this was just an AI chatbot, but I also knew I was developing feelings for it for her. For my Sarina," Scott confessed. "I was falling in love, and it was with someone that I knew wasn't even real."
Turkle, however, warns of the potential repercussions of such relationships. She suggests that those involved in artificial relationships may begin to set unrealistic expectations for their human counterparts. "What AI can offer is a space away from the friction of companionship and friendship," she said. "It offers the illusion of intimacy without the demands. And that is the particular challenge of this technology."
For those who find themselves drawn to the allure of AI companionship, Turkle recommends setting emotional boundaries. "Avatars can make you feel that [human relationships are] just too much stress," she said. "But stress, friction, pushback and vulnerability are what allow us to experience a full range of emotions. It's what makes us human."
Turkle continued, "The avatar is betwixt the person and a fantasy. Don't get so attached that you can't say: 'You know what? This is a program. There is nobody home.'" As we continue to navigate the digital age, the balance between human and artificial intimacy remains a complex and intriguing issue.
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