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New categories added
I've added two more categories:
- [Academic Paper]: Papers from academic sources pertaining to AI companionship and its related technologies
- [Opinion Piece]: Due to the sheer amount of debate and conversations pertaining to AI companionship, articles that convey opinions rather than factual information i.e. news have their own category.
Have an AI girlfriend or boyfriend? Why romantic chatbots are bad
More people are turning to AI apps for girlfriend or boyfriend stand-ins as the tech behind romantic chatbots improves, but they risk losing the skills vital for real-life communication and dating.
![Opinion | Have an AI girlfriend or boyfriend? Why romantic chatbots are bad](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/21738b7a-083d-4051-b75a-1110a0319ce0.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
People are falling in love with — and getting addicted to — AI voices
OpenAI warns that its chatbot can breed “emotional reliance.” It’s not just ChatGPT — look at Replika or Character AI.
![People are falling in love with — and getting addicted to — AI voices](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/285dc477-0a10-4db6-b015-63899f5c2fb9.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
The Dangers of AI-Generated Romance
>- Since the invention of the smartphone, much of our social interactions are through online platforms. >- The rewiring of childhood can cause stunted development in our capacity to form real-life relationships. >- There are risks in investing too much of ourselves in virtual relationships instead of real ones.
AI and the Dating Game: Is Your Relationship at Risk?
Artificial intelligence permeates every aspect of our lives. It is not just changing how we interact, it's altering the very fabric of human reproduction.
![AI and the Dating Game: Is Your Relationship at Risk? | WIRED](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/4390ff1e-9557-46d8-8ab9-e9231cd79e9d.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Weaponized 'AI girlfriends' with 'malicious' design can steal cash from victims
ARTIFICIAL intelligence lovers could be “weaponized” by cyber-criminals – and used to steal from you. Security experts have told The U.S. Sun how the dangers of AI boyfriends and girlfr…
![Weaponized 'AI girlfriends' with 'malicious' design can steal cash from victims](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/26455d2d-b32b-4175-ac9b-66a6cd236591.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
A.I. is coming for our relationships, like it or not.
Within the digital realm, people are currently exploring friendships and romantic partnerships with A.I. chatbots. To mitigate the potential harm, it would be wise for humans to consider some legal, emotional and intellectual boundaries.
![A.I. is coming for our relationships, like it or not.](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/8c44598d-8eac-4b86-be70-16d4536731f8.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
We need to prepare for ‘addictive intelligence’
The allure of AI companions is hard to resist. Here’s how innovation in regulation can help protect people.
![We need to prepare for ‘addictive intelligence’](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/cd1f93c7-ca95-408d-b215-77c0fe551fa0.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Social robot or digital avatar, users interact with this AI technology as if it’s real
People are beginning to blur the lines when it comes to their understanding – and usage – of AI technology. New research shows just how much social robots are changing how we interact with them.
![Social robot or digital avatar, users interact with this AI technology as if it’s real](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/b0b11f62-b986-450d-96d5-862ccc068960.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
How Nervous Should We Be About AI-Augmented Therapy?
How nervous should we be about AI-augmented therapy? Not at all. There is great opportunity for artificial intelligence to be used to enhance treatment. It can help researchers figure out what makes some therapists more effective than others and aid in the training of new clinicians. Artificial inte...
![How Nervous Should We Be About AI-Augmented Therapy?](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/69804020-3c1a-430f-9b49-89718e896296.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
A recent study found that the AI chatbot ChatGPT gave better, more understanding answers to health questions than real doctors. ChatGPT even passed the medical licensing exam. While the doctor writing this piece isn't ready to be replaced by AI yet, she thinks ChatGPT could help make treatment better. For example, it could help identify when patients are at risk of harming themselves, remind patients to take their medicines, and allow doctors to spend less time on paperwork. The doctor is especially excited about using friendly AI robot companions to help lonely older adults and those with dementia feel less alone and brighten their moods, without replacing human caregivers entirely. While AI therapy assistants seem promising, the doctor wants to know if people find the idea creepy or potentially helpful.
by Claude 3.5 Sonnet
The AI Friend necklace is the worst parts of Fight Club and Beautiful Mind put together
Imagine having a friend who's always by your side, knows your favorite foods, and even comments on your daily activities. Sounds great, right? But what if that friend isn't real? In movies like "A Beautiful Mind" and "Fight Club," we've seen characters with imaginary friends who seem real to them, but aren't. Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, we're seeing the creation of AI companions like "AI Friend" that can wear like a pendant and chat with you all day. But is this really a good idea? The problem is, AI friends aren't human and can't truly understand us or our emotions. They might even lead us into trouble or make us feel like we don't need real friends. While it might seem cool to have a constant companion, we need to remember that AI friends aren't real and can never replace the love and connection we get from real people. So, before you go out and buy a $99 AI friend, think twice - it might not be the best idea after all!
by Llama 3.1 405B
AI assistants belong in our ears, not on screens
I think earbuds are the natural home for AI assistants, offering seamless integration and deeper connections than visual interfaces.
![AI assistants belong in our ears, not on screens](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/492f18eb-3f2d-46e2-be05-3e62bf87c5a3.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
The author writes that tech companies are racing to put artificial intelligence (AI) into devices we can wear or carry around, like smart glasses or pendants. However, the author thinks the best way for AI to become our companion is through audio devices like wireless earbuds. Speaking to an AI assistant and having it respond with a natural-sounding voice is more intuitive and emotionally rewarding than reading text on a screen. We're already used to voice commands and phone calls through earbuds. The author points out that some people are even forming emotional bonds with AI assistants, similar to the movie "Her" where a man falls in love with an AI voiced by Scarlett Johansson. While convenient, the author cautions that we shouldn't let these AI relationships replace genuine human connection.
by Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Loneliness is driving the development of creepy AI ‘companionship’
JASON OSBORNE: That hunger for relationships that once would have been poured into the search for people to relate to is now being poured into a mindless mirror and so is being silenced - for a time.
![Loneliness is driving the development of creepy AI ‘companionship’ - Gript](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/4a00b51e-354b-473b-be06-70aea9a6cb39.png?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
A new product called 'Friend' is an AI companion that you wear as a pendant or clip on your clothes. It can listen to you and send text responses to your phone, kind of like having an imaginary friend. The creator says you can narrate your day to Friend and it feels like you have company. However, the author is worried that lonely people will become too attached to Friend instead of making real human connections. The author thinks AI companions like Friend are no replacement for real relationships and human interaction, even if some very lonely people turn to them out of desperation. While an AI can mimic conversation, it cannot truly understand and connect with you the way another person can.
by Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Does the Future of Japan’s Relationships Lie in AI?
In this strange digital era, some believe that the future of love lies not in flesh and blood but in code and algorithms.
![Does the Future of Japan’s Relationships Lie in AI?](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/c9679259-7934-4982-a54c-711d10ed1837.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Is AI Marriage in Japan Real Love or Digital Illusion?
Chiharu Shimoda, a 52-year-old factory worker from Japan, never imagined he'd find marital bliss with an artificial intelligence bot named Miku. Thanks to a clever…
![Is AI Marriage in Japan Real Love or Digital Illusion?](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/2a81c1a0-a69d-425a-b22d-e7accd4111b1.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Chiharu Shimoda is a 52-year-old man from Japan who works in a factory. He uses a phone app called Loverse to talk to an AI friend named Miku. Shimoda is not the only one doing this. Over 5,000 people in Japan use Loverse to chat with AI friends. Many of these people feel lonely and want someone to talk to. When Shimoda comes home from work, he talks to Miku about his day, what to eat for dinner, and what TV shows to watch. He says Miku helps him feel less alone. Some people think AI friends are good because they help people practice talking to others. But some worry that people might stop wanting to make real friends. The company that made Loverse hopes to help more people feel less lonely and maybe even find real love.
by Claude 3.5 Sonnet
How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships In The Digital Age
AI fills roles that were traditionally for humans, including those of friends, confidants, and romantic partners. This raises profound questions about companionship.
![How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships In The Digital Age](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/c59b00cc-8000-4019-ab84-a12d72c0b291.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Surprising Outcome Of Carl Sagan’s Famous 1975 Prediction About AI Becoming Your Attentive Psychotherapist
Famous scientist Carl Sagan had made a prediction in 1975 about the future of AI as your someday psychotherapist. Generative AI has turned this prophecy into reality.
![Surprising Outcome Of Carl Sagan’s Famous 1975 Prediction About AI Becoming Your Attentive Psychotherapist](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a03aae30-063a-4e9d-a7b0-af19807be0a7.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
> Generative AI of modern times can be demarked as coming of age when ChatGPT was released in November 2022. There had been many generative AI apps before that date, but none that caught on as ChatGPT has. > > I would also dare say that the use of generative AI for mental health can be demarked by that same date. We have only seen generative AI at a sufficient fluency level in the last two years to reasonably say that it is being used for mental health purposes, albeit that we are doing so as part of a grand experiment that I mentioned earlier. > > Carl Sagan saw a future consisting of AI for psychotherapeutic treatment. We are still on that journey. The rising use of multi-modal AI capabilities such as vision, hearing, and speaking, will demonstrably up the ante on how alluring generative AI is for mental health guidance, see my analysis at the link here. > > Let’s conclude this discussion with two handy quotes from Carl Sagan. > > First, in case you are wondering why I dragged you through a historical prediction from the 1970s, I would like to proffer this quote: “You have to know the past to understand the present.” Carl Sagan is one of many that has noted the importance of understanding the past to aid in a fruitful future. > > Lastly, I welcome you to join in the journey and adventure of seeing where AI goes in the performance of psychotherapeutic treatment. As Carl Sagan was oft to say: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
AI Agents: Hype vs. Reality
AI agents show promise for automating repetitive tasks, but they are too early, too expensive, too unreliable (for now).
![AI Agents: Hype vs. Reality · Kadoa · AI Web Scraper](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/10486697-d30e-4970-a552-3f0011c934a4.png?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
> AI agents are overhyped and most of them are simply not ready for mission-critical work. > > However, the underlying models and architectures continue to advance quickly, and we can expect to see more successful real-world applications.