Elon University has partnered with The Washington Post to conduct what turned out to be a worrying survey about Americans viewing AI chatbots as virtual friends or therapists.
The results very much vindicate Apple’s careful decision to ensure that Siri AI doesn’t encourage such pseudo-relationships …
The AI friendship findings
More than a quarter of Americans view AI chatbots in much the same way they might a close friend or therapist, according to The Washington Post.
While some of this usage may serve positive purposes, the concern is that having chatbots act as an emotional substitute for friendship and romance reduces the incentives to invest time and effort in establishing genuine human connections. It may lead to a downward spiral of increasing social isolation.
Siri AI does not encourage this
Apple execs Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak said earlier this year that Siri AI will not act in this way.
9to5Mac’s Take
I found the survey results extremely alarming, especially after listening to the excellent Suspicious Minds: Al and the Apocalypse podcast about AI-fueled delusions. The stance Apple is taking here is absolutely the right one.
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