AI companions – as soon as sure to science fiction, this phrase has change into a actuality. However would possibly they supply consolation to individuals in an more and more lonely world?

That’s what Tony Prescott, a professor of cognitive robotics on the College of Sheffield, suggests in his new ebook, “The Psychology of Synthetic Intelligence.” 

Prescott argues that AI expertise might assist alleviate the worldwide loneliness epidemic by offering companionship and social interplay.

“In an age when many individuals describe their lives as lonely, there could also be worth in having AI companionship as a type of reciprocal social interplay that’s stimulating and personalised.”

He argues that AI companions might assist break the vicious cycle of loneliness, the place isolation erodes vanity and discourages additional social interplay. 

The influence of loneliness on well being is well-documented and rising. A 2023 report discovered that social disconnection is extra dangerous than weight problems, rising the chance of untimely demise by 26% and heightening the probability of assorted well being issues. 

Within the UK, some 3.8 million individuals endure from continual loneliness, whereas a large-scale Harvard examine revealed that 36% of US adults and 61% of younger adults expertise severe loneliness.

“There could also be methods wherein AI companionship might assist break this cycle by scaffolding emotions of self-worth and serving to preserve or enhance social expertise. In that case, relationships with AIs might assist individuals to search out companionship with each human and synthetic others” Prescott argues. 

Nevertheless, he additionally cautions that this potential profit comes with dangers. AI companionship “could possibly be designed to encourage customers to work together for longer and longer intervals and to maintain them coming again.” 

A current Cambridge examine described hypothetical conditions the place AI fashions replicating deceased relations might ‘digitally hang-out’ the residing and influence human psychology and establishments. 

Prescott’s claims are supported by a current examine from Stanford College, which sheds mild on the potential psychological well being advantages of AI companions for lonely and suicidal college students. 

The researchers surveyed 1,006 customers of Replika, an AI chatbot that makes use of generative AI to have interaction in human-like dialog.

They discovered that 90% of the individuals skilled loneliness, with 43% qualifying as severely or very severely lonely.

Regardless of some detrimental suggestions, most individuals reported Replika helped their psychological well being in 4 key methods: 1) They thought-about Replika a pal that was at all times there for them, lowering anxiousness and offering social assist; 2) It had a therapeutic impact, serving to them work via issues; 3) It led to constructive life adjustments, comparable to elevated empathy; and 4) It instantly stopped 30 individuals from trying suicide.

The vast majority of the scholars who participated within the examine earned below $20,000, making it difficult for them to afford human counseling or remedy companies. 

This echoes related debates surrounding social media – that it may each divide individuals and convey them collectively. 

With out deeper, extra structural options for loneliness, expertise may be among the many subsequent finest bets. 

Nevertheless, it poses a dangerous and doubtlessly maladaptive cycle, the place AI companions might band-aid the accidents expertise has gone some technique to inflict.