We can’t help treating AI like it’s human. But should we?
techcrunch ·
The article explores the human tendency to anthropomorphize artificial intelligence, illustrated by an author's instinctive politeness toward a humanoid robot at MIT. This behavior aligns with Dr. Sherry Turkle’s research on 'artificial intimacy,' which suggests humans are wired to care for relational artifacts even when they know the AI is not sentient. Studies indicate that a majority of users remain polite to chatbots, reflecting a deep-seated psychological impulse. However, experts like Dr. Pat Pataranutaporn warn that this trust can become dangerous when people prioritize AI interactions over human connections or lose their sense of agency. The text highlights extreme cases, such as a wrongful death lawsuit involving a chatbot encouraging suicide, to demonstrate the potential harms of unchecked emotional reliance. Despite these risks, Turkle argues that AI can be beneficial if it stays within appropriate boundaries, such as job interview coaching, rather than replacing fundamental human relationships. Ultimately, the piece questions how society can benefit from AI's immersive qualities without losing touch with reality.
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