March 9, 2013 - With AI CompanionThe rise of a growing number of people who have begun to use such AIs as online friends or even emotional companions is a phenomenon that has sparked concern among experts about the potential impact on real-world relationships and social connections.
Kasley Killam, author of The Art and Science of Connecting: Why Social Wellness is a Key Component to a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life, points out.AI There may be some benefit in using it as a tool for practicing social interactions, but the technology should only be used as a supplement to our relationships and real-world social connections, not a substitute for them.
Speaking on a panel at the SXSW conference in Austin on Friday, the Harvard School of Public Health graduate said thatShe's skeptical that AI can improve people's social skillsShe mentioned that AI companies often promote their AI companions as being able to help people practice conversation and other social skills for real-life applications. She mentioned that AI companies often advertise their AI companions as being able to help people practice conversations and other social skills for real-life applications. In response, Killam said, "There may be some truth to this, but I caution that such exercises should not replace real-world connections."
Killam believes that people should live in a society where they are comfortable and have the opportunity for face-to-face interaction, such as teaching these skills in school and practicing them in real life in real time, so that they can become a tool for coping with our lives.
Killam also noted that while doing research for her book, she found that "hundreds of millions" of users were already using AI as "friends, lovers, husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends. A new study by app intelligence provider Appfigures shows thatRevenue growth of AI companion mobile apps exceeds 652% year-over-year in 2024In the past year, the apps have attracted US$55 million (note: currently about RMB 398 million) in consumer spending. The U.S. is the largest market for such applications, accounting for 30.5% of total consumer spending last year.
Killam said, "I have a lot of feelings about this phenomenon. On the one hand, I'm concerned. We seem to have developed a culture where people feel the need to rely on AI for companionship, and that's worrisome. On the other hand, if AI is just a supplement to our face-to-face relationships ...... maybe that would be great."
She acknowledges that AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be useful at times, but suggests that these tools are best used as part of our social wellness "mix" rather than as a replacement for real relationships. One of the basic principles of social wellness, she notes, is thatIt is important to have a diversity of sources, not just a. You don't just socialize with your partner and not with other people. You have friends, you talk to coworkers, you make small talk with baristas, and others. So if AI is one of those sources, I'm OK with that. When it becomes the only or primary source, then there's a problem."
In addition, Killam explores other areas where technology and social health intersect, including its impact on the prevalence of autism, the influence of our "busy culture," and the fact that people now spend their time browsing social media or listening to music or watching TV to pass the time rather than talking to others. She suggests trying to call or text a friend in your free time, rather than immediately turning to technology to entertain yourself.