With the Rise of Ai Companions who Serve as online friends or Romantic InterestsExperts are questioning how the technology affects our real-will social connections and relationships.
According to Kasley Killam, Author of the social health-focused book “The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longing, Healthier, and Happier,” There may be some benefits to using ai as ai as a to proacial interactions, but the Technology should only be used to augment, not replace, our personal relationships and real-wind Connections.
On Friday, The Social Health Expert and Graduate of the harvard school of public health explained during a panel at the sxsw conference in austin that she was skeptical it Social skills.
She noted that AI Companies will of the benefit of using their ai companies as a way for people to practice conversions and other social skills for use in the real wall.
“That may be True,” She said, but she warned that this type of practice should not replace Real-World Connections.
“I want to have a society where people feel comfortable and have options practicing that in person – like if we’re teaching this in schools and practicing it in real time, then JUST BCOMES PART of its Toolkit for how to go about life, “Killam said.
The author also noted that while she was researching her book, she found that “Hundreds of Millions” of users were alredy using ai as a “friend, as a lover, as husband, as a wife, as a boyfriend, [or] as a girlfriend. “
Recent Research From app intelligence provider appfigures found Year, for instance. The us was the top market for these apps last year, Accounting for 30.5% of Total Consumer Spending.
“I have a lot of feelings about this,” Killam said. “On one hand, I’mM concerned. I’m concerned that we have created a Culture where people feel like they need to turn to ai for companyship. That’s concerning. On the other hand, I think that if it’s in addition to our in-faceon relationships… Maybe that can be great. “
Killam agreed that ai chatbots like chatgpt out Relationships.
“One of the core Principles of social health is that it’s important to have diverse sources, meaning not just one. You don’t just just socialize with your romantic partner and no one else. You have friends, you talk to co-waiters, you chit chat with the barista, and other people. And so if ai is one of that sources, i’m open to that. “
“Where it becomes a problem is when it is only or one of the main sources.”
She also touched on other ares where technology interactions with social health, include its impact on the loneliness Epidemic, our culture of “Busyness,” and how people sleepless people are spaced Timel Social media or listening to or watching media to kill time instead of talking to other people.
She suggested sometimes calling or texting a friend in your downtime, raather than immediatily turning to technology to keep you entertained.