Mihika Agarwal at The Walrus:
Abrupt policy-inspired breakups are just one socio-ethical dilemma ushered in by the era of artificial intimacy. What are the psychological effects of spending time with AI-powered companions that provide everything from fictionalized character building to sexually explicit role play to recreating old-school girlfriends and boyfriends who promise to never ghost or dump you?
Some bots, including Replika, Soulmate AI, and Character AI, replicate the gamified experience of apps like Candy Crush, using points, badges, and loyalty rewards to keep users coming back. Premium subscription tiers (about $60 to $180 per year, depending on the app) unlock features like “intimate mode,” sending longer messages to your bot, or going ad free. Popular large language models like ChatGPT are veering in the same direction—a recent OpenAI report revealed the risk of “emotional reliance” with software that now offers voice exchanges.
Love, lust, and loneliness—Silicon Valley may have found its next set of visceral human needs to capitalize on.
More here.
Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.