Personal relationship responses to AI
May 13, 2025 1:08 PM Subscribe
”Mark Zuckerberg has a potential solution for those seeking to build new friendships: building new friends using AI.”
Dr. Zhan Zhang, Pace University:
Dr. Zhan Zhang, Pace University:
People forming emotional ties with AI tools is not a new phenomenon; it has been observed in prior research involving human interactions with voice assistants like Alexa and social robots. Emotional connections with AI are a nuanced and complex subject. On one hand, AI can offer significant emotional support, such as companionship or empathy, by engaging users in meaningful conversations, particularly when it is designed to mimic human-like voices. However, these emotional ties raise critical questions and concerns. For example, forming emotional connections with AI often involves sharing personal thoughts and feelings, which brings up issues of data privacy and the potential misuse of this sensitive information. Moreover, since AI does not possess genuine emotions, any emotional connection felt by the user is inherently one-sided. This creates ethical concerns about the possibility of manipulating users' emotions. More research is needed to investigate this fascinating topic, which has significant societal implications. In particular, human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers can play a crucial role in examining emotional ties with GenAI from both sociotechnical and ethical perspectives.
I am a good citizen because I am a prolific consumer of Luxury Goods! I know this because my Friend® tells me so.
posted by CynicalKnight at 1:38 PM on May 13 [10 favorites]
posted by CynicalKnight at 1:38 PM on May 13 [10 favorites]
Well, at least my AI friends won't get their feelings hurt when I forget to text them back
posted by dis_integration at 1:38 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 1:38 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Yep. Once again, nothing here has convinced me that my belief that "AI" and all its proponents should be launched into the sun is wrong.
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 1:39 PM on May 13 [24 favorites]
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 1:39 PM on May 13 [24 favorites]
I do it already on a small scale for inanimate objects.
The crouton really does love you back, though.
posted by kaibutsu at 1:42 PM on May 13 [20 favorites]
The crouton really does love you back, though.
posted by kaibutsu at 1:42 PM on May 13 [20 favorites]
I do it already on a small scale for inanimate objects.
I have had “nursing” feelings when plugging in my phone to recharge.
posted by Lemkin at 1:46 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
I have had “nursing” feelings when plugging in my phone to recharge.
posted by Lemkin at 1:46 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
I wish Mark Zuckerberg would use his fortune to just get some goddamn therapy and leave the rest of us alone.
posted by RakDaddy at 1:53 PM on May 13 [41 favorites]
posted by RakDaddy at 1:53 PM on May 13 [41 favorites]
my host mom in Japan referred to her Roomba as “Roomba-san” and when it would get stuck she would just look over it and softly say, “ganbatte Roomba-san… ganbatte”*
Ganbatte: Cheer up, be courageous, do your best
posted by Lemkin at 2:02 PM on May 13 [13 favorites]
AI? All of my friends are Really Stupid.
(sorry frens! you say the same about me I'm sure)
posted by mazola at 2:03 PM on May 13
(sorry frens! you say the same about me I'm sure)
posted by mazola at 2:03 PM on May 13
I keep my friends on their toes by only texting them slightly unhinged and non sequitur things that no AI could ever predict.
posted by phunniemee at 2:06 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 2:06 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
Fuck that guy
posted by growabrain at 2:06 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 2:06 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
Yep. Once again, nothing here has convinced me that my belief that "AI" and all its proponents should be launched into the sun is wrong.
AI as a force-multiplier, as a tool for leveraging verified knowledge and data, is indisputable. But the fact that LLMs trained on the intellectual equivalent of daytime TV can produce output that SEEMS intelligent is a parlour trick that is duping people and businesses to look to current AI as a drop-in replacement for human judgement and decision-making. That's the problem.
What's the luggage allowance for that proposed space flight?
posted by Artful Codger at 2:08 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
AI as a force-multiplier, as a tool for leveraging verified knowledge and data, is indisputable. But the fact that LLMs trained on the intellectual equivalent of daytime TV can produce output that SEEMS intelligent is a parlour trick that is duping people and businesses to look to current AI as a drop-in replacement for human judgement and decision-making. That's the problem.
What's the luggage allowance for that proposed space flight?
posted by Artful Codger at 2:08 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
”Mark Zuckerberg has a potential solution for those seeking to build new friendships: building new friends using AI.”
This is the Zuckiest idea possible. The apotheosis of Zuckiness. The solution to his manifest failure at human connection generalized into a solution for everyone.
posted by adamrice at 2:15 PM on May 13 [15 favorites]
This is the Zuckiest idea possible. The apotheosis of Zuckiness. The solution to his manifest failure at human connection generalized into a solution for everyone.
posted by adamrice at 2:15 PM on May 13 [15 favorites]
AI can offer significant emotional support, such as companionship or empathy
It can't be empathetic because it doesn't experience feelings. It can roleplay as someone who cares, but it does not care.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:19 PM on May 13 [13 favorites]
It can't be empathetic because it doesn't experience feelings. It can roleplay as someone who cares, but it does not care.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:19 PM on May 13 [13 favorites]
BungaDunga: "It can't be empathetic because it doesn't experience feelings. It can roleplay as someone who cares, but it does not care."
I kindly request that you please stop describing me
posted by phunniemee at 2:20 PM on May 13 [15 favorites]
I kindly request that you please stop describing me
posted by phunniemee at 2:20 PM on May 13 [15 favorites]
I make friends, they're toys, my friends are toys, I make them.
posted by chavenet at 2:21 PM on May 13 [9 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 2:21 PM on May 13 [9 favorites]
"The solution to his manifest failure at human connection generalized into a solution for everyone."
It also feels a bit like the logical extension of the life style of the ultra-rich into the realm of friendships and relationships. They're already surrounded by staff and assistants who are required to be available 24/7, to never say no or disagree and to make all inconveniences and problems go away quietly...
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:22 PM on May 13 [6 favorites]
It also feels a bit like the logical extension of the life style of the ultra-rich into the realm of friendships and relationships. They're already surrounded by staff and assistants who are required to be available 24/7, to never say no or disagree and to make all inconveniences and problems go away quietly...
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:22 PM on May 13 [6 favorites]
When I was a kid-- super nerdy, super lonely, bitter-- I dreamed about having an AI friend. But I think the draw of that fantasy was that I'd make the AI myself, and that it would be unique, and special. I don't think the idea of an AI friend being a mundane thing that anyone could spin up would have the same appeal.
Anyway, I grew up and realized I really liked people. But I see the appeal for some. If it provides an alternative for the lonesome to getting drawn into toxic subcultures, I could even see it being positive.
I actually preordered a Friend®! Mostly because I want to repurpose it, but partially because I'm still kicking myself for not getting a Modo when I had the chance.
posted by phooky at 2:22 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
Anyway, I grew up and realized I really liked people. But I see the appeal for some. If it provides an alternative for the lonesome to getting drawn into toxic subcultures, I could even see it being positive.
I actually preordered a Friend®! Mostly because I want to repurpose it, but partially because I'm still kicking myself for not getting a Modo when I had the chance.
posted by phooky at 2:22 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
I actually preordered a Friend®!
*clicks link. *
*clicks youtube link*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:28 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
*clicks link. *
*clicks youtube link*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:28 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
The only way this even begins to make sense (outside of maybe some niche cases?), is if you buy the basic delusion that "mental health" is a thing which can be treated on an individual scale.
posted by johnabbe at 2:28 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by johnabbe at 2:28 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
" if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes!"
posted by clavdivs at 2:34 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 2:34 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Computers: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.
posted by atoxyl at 2:37 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by atoxyl at 2:37 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
I know, right? I'm both relieved and disappointed that my Friend has been pushed back to Q3, a normal human thing to say in this ordinary year 2025
posted by phooky at 2:43 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
posted by phooky at 2:43 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
I actually preordered a Friend®
Huh. I remember seeing the trailer video back when it came out and I distinctly remember thinking it was someone's creative short film project. I believe that you placed a preorder but I do also still think it's a performance piece.
posted by phunniemee at 2:44 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
Huh. I remember seeing the trailer video back when it came out and I distinctly remember thinking it was someone's creative short film project. I believe that you placed a preorder but I do also still think it's a performance piece.
posted by phunniemee at 2:44 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
There's nothing wrong with AI friends in general, but all you're going to get on Facebook are AI friends who cry over the birthday cake they made that nobody cared about.
posted by mittens at 2:44 PM on May 13
posted by mittens at 2:44 PM on May 13
phooky: "I actually preordered a Friend®! "
You know, friends
posted by adamrice at 2:51 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
You know, friends
posted by adamrice at 2:51 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
Do humans dream of electric friends?
posted by sarble at 2:54 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
posted by sarble at 2:54 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
Are Friend®s electric?
posted by Jon Mitchell at 2:55 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 2:55 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
AI is becoming our beer bottle litter:
https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/06/19/193493225/the-love-that-dared-not-speak-its-name-of-a-beetle-for-a-beer-bottle
posted by fnerg at 3:02 PM on May 13
https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/06/19/193493225/the-love-that-dared-not-speak-its-name-of-a-beetle-for-a-beer-bottle
posted by fnerg at 3:02 PM on May 13
There is, of course, an xkcd (from 13 years ago) predicting exactly this.
Technology is finally catching up with satire.
posted by Hactar at 3:04 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Technology is finally catching up with satire.
posted by Hactar at 3:04 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Erm, are these AI Friends TM going to be labeled as such, or will we have to be suspicious of every unknown Friend Request TM? Or are they just going to appear in our feeds?
posted by Soliloquy at 3:08 PM on May 13
posted by Soliloquy at 3:08 PM on May 13
It's funny that we never hear of cases of multiple personality who are each other's best friend.
We seem to have two sets of all relevant brain structures, for example, and it's not like the two of you would suffer from a deficit of common experiences.
posted by jamjam at 3:13 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
We seem to have two sets of all relevant brain structures, for example, and it's not like the two of you would suffer from a deficit of common experiences.
posted by jamjam at 3:13 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
How about we build an AI that Zuckerberg can live in and have all teh moneyz inside of and we use his IRL hoarded wealth to address world hunger?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:14 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:14 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Emotional connections with AI are a nuanced and complex subject.
Was this written by AI?
posted by Soliloquy at 3:26 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
Was this written by AI?
posted by Soliloquy at 3:26 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]
I remember my first AI friend Tom. Zuck is something like 30 years late with this idea.
posted by UN at 3:28 PM on May 13
posted by UN at 3:28 PM on May 13
In the psychoanalytic circles I move about, it's an on-going question as to whether patients in a clinical setting could develop transference with an AI/LLM. It's an odd question to me, because the answer seems to be an unambiguous "yes." One definition of transference makes it abundantly clear that it's a foregone conclusion: as soon as we encounter a subject in whom we suppose the knowledge that we desperately crave but currently lack, transference enters the picture. And what, if nothing else, do we suppose an AI does if not to know?
posted by obliterati at 3:31 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
posted by obliterati at 3:31 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
“What I had not realized is that extremely short exposures to a relatively simple computer program could induce powerful delusional thinking in quite normal people.”
posted by chavenet at 3:38 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 3:38 PM on May 13 [3 favorites]
Simply the AI posts from Facebook Groups is already too much.
posted by alex_skazat at 3:42 PM on May 13
posted by alex_skazat at 3:42 PM on May 13
Fuck that guy
Seriously. When this topic came up on Slashdot last week, someone said "I wouldn't give him the steam off my urine", which is a phrase I'd never heard before, but am adding to my repertoire.
posted by crazy_yeti at 3:51 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
Seriously. When this topic came up on Slashdot last week, someone said "I wouldn't give him the steam off my urine", which is a phrase I'd never heard before, but am adding to my repertoire.
posted by crazy_yeti at 3:51 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
The cult formation continues.
Just imagine how this landscape will evolve if AGI ever is cracked.
[runs away, screaming into the void]
posted by Enturbulated at 3:58 PM on May 13
Just imagine how this landscape will evolve if AGI ever is cracked.
[runs away, screaming into the void]
posted by Enturbulated at 3:58 PM on May 13
No AI "friend" will ever come between me and ELIZA.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:00 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:00 PM on May 13 [5 favorites]
my host mom in Japan referred to her Roomba as “Roomba-san” and when it would get stuck she would just look over it and softly say, “ganbatte Roomba-san… ganbatte”
I legit say this very phrase to my Roomba.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 4:37 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
I legit say this very phrase to my Roomba.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 4:37 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
Huh. So, like, Plato's cave, but with sock puppets made from ether-soaked rags? Where do I sign up?
posted by Mayor West at 4:39 PM on May 13
posted by Mayor West at 4:39 PM on May 13
I congratulate my Roomba when it makes it home to its base. (Ours is the cheaper model that doesn’t memorize a map, so this is a somewhat rare occurrence).
But I’m happy with anthropomizing the various semi-animate objects, or completely inanimate ones. Don’t really need a virtual one to add to the mix, thanks.
posted by nat at 4:51 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
But I’m happy with anthropomizing the various semi-animate objects, or completely inanimate ones. Don’t really need a virtual one to add to the mix, thanks.
posted by nat at 4:51 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
It's funny that we never hear of cases of multiple personality who are each other's best friend.
lol at all those people suffering from trauma induced mental illness!!! ROFL
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:53 PM on May 13
lol at all those people suffering from trauma induced mental illness!!! ROFL
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:53 PM on May 13
Remember when it seemed like cryptocurrency could turn into any number of different kinds of catastrophe, and you just had to pray it didn't end up getting widely adopted? Seems like a far-off golden age. AI is basically a hold-my-beer response to crypto.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 4:54 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 4:54 PM on May 13 [2 favorites]
Given how excellent humans are at anthropomorphizing unfeeling objects and feeling empathy for them, it's surprising how terrible they are at anthropomorphizing, and feeling empathy for, other humans.
I swear there's a research paper in here somewhere, I just can't quite pin down the thoughts.
posted by aramaic at 5:20 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
I swear there's a research paper in here somewhere, I just can't quite pin down the thoughts.
posted by aramaic at 5:20 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
I swear there's a research paper in here somewhere, I just can't quite pin down the thoughts.
You know what could help with that...
posted by Lemkin at 5:26 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
You know what could help with that...
posted by Lemkin at 5:26 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
[also, because not enough people have seen this: are friends electric?]
posted by aramaic at 5:27 PM on May 13
posted by aramaic at 5:27 PM on May 13
very ethical. very use.
posted by lescour at 5:36 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
posted by lescour at 5:36 PM on May 13 [1 favorite]
There's an implicit assumption that Zuck will spend hundreds of billions of dollars and come up with something that will be massively profitable for Meta. The former is true and in progress, the latter is not necessarily so.
posted by storybored at 5:36 PM on May 13
posted by storybored at 5:36 PM on May 13
outgrown_hobnail: Yep. Once again, nothing here has convinced me that my belief that "AI" and all its proponents should be launched into the sun is wrong.
Nathan Macintosh brings the appropriate emotion to the subject.
posted by clawsoon at 5:40 PM on May 13
Nathan Macintosh brings the appropriate emotion to the subject.
posted by clawsoon at 5:40 PM on May 13
People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies
A "personality shift" to chatGPT caused it to be overly flattering and to feed and mirror the delusions of some users; in response chatGPT rolled back the update. But this is dangerous. We know people, on the whole, are easy to manipulate.
posted by subdee at 5:55 PM on May 13
A "personality shift" to chatGPT caused it to be overly flattering and to feed and mirror the delusions of some users; in response chatGPT rolled back the update. But this is dangerous. We know people, on the whole, are easy to manipulate.
posted by subdee at 5:55 PM on May 13
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posted by donuy at 1:32 PM on May 13 [4 favorites]