Thomas Poindexter on LinkedIn: The teens making friends with AI chatbots (2024)

Discover how AI chatbots like Character.AI and HoloEye.ai are supporting teens worldwide psychologically. Dive into the impact of Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality on mental health at ThirdEyeGen. #AI #Metaverse #MixedReality #smartglasses #HoloEye #ThirdEyeGen

The teens making friends with AI chatbots. Many young users have experienced both benefits and drawbacks of AI companions. While some find these chatbots helpful, entertaining, and supportive, others feel addicted to them, which has raised concerns among researchers and experts. This situation prompts important questions about the impact of AI on the social development of young people and the potential consequences of increasing emotional reliance on bots by teenagers and society overall.OpenAI's chief technology officer, Mira Murati, has called for thorough research into the impact of AI as it develops, to prevent it from becoming addictive and dangerous. As companies introduce features with longer memory and greater personalization capabilities, the results become more relevant to users. However, Murati warned, "With increased capability comes the risk that if designed poorly, these systems could become highly addictive and potentially lead us to become dependent on them."#ai #teens #risks

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The Verge recently covered how AI chatbots such as Character.AI and HoloEye.ai are helping teenagers around the world psychologically https://lnkd.in/g4TvKQrg Learn more about Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality at https://thirdeyegen.com/#AI #Metaverse #MixedReality #smartglasses #HoloEye #ThirdEyeGen

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This report from The Verge shows many young people experience AI as a social technology. That’s why I think it’s important to integrate social and emotional learning in conversations about AI literacy.Exploring the connection between SEL and AI has been at the heart of our work at Common Sense Media.📨 We’ve written about the importance of centering human connection as we think about how to use AI in schools. https://lnkd.in/gPgNFtf9📼 We created a student-facing video that discusses why AI chatbots are designed to be conversational. And, how this design choice can impact our well-being. https://lnkd.in/g6k39W_2👩🏫 We even developed a lesson that gets at the heart of the experience shared by the teens in the article: how can AI impact our ideas and expectations about friendship? https://lnkd.in/gHGPc7CYThere’s quite more ground to cover but I am super proud of the things we’ve created in a relatively short time!

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While we all acknowledge the potential for using AI to make the world a better place, we must guard against the flip side: the great harm that can be done with AI. Take, for example, this article and the Stanford University study it cites.AI chatbot companions have the potential for providing crucial, personal mental health services to those who may not otherwise have access to or be able to afford professional mental health services; clearly a positive outcome.On the other hand, AI with exponentially increasing capability to mimic human interactions is being developed within a social environment where loneliness and depression is at modern high (especially among teenage girls) and within an economic environment in which high-tech companies have demonstrated a preference for algorithms that increase engagement and profit over child safety. I can imagine companies taking advantage of our fundamental need for human connection to make a profit by using AI algorithms to design addictive, emotional relationships with chatbots at the expense of connecting with real humans: adults or other children.This is just one of several “what could possibly go wrong” scenarios that concern me and that we must address with our policies, regulations, and design practices.#AI #ethicalai #design #ethicaldesign #maketheworldabetterplace https://lnkd.in/gn5Acz6i

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Character.AI is an AI chatbot service launched in 2022 by two former Google Brain employees. Character.AI’s website, which is mostly free to use, attracts 3.5 million daily users who spend an average of two hours a day using or even designing the platform’s AI-powered chatbots.For many Character.AI users, having a space to vent about their emotions or discuss psychological issues with someone outside of their social circle is a large part of what draws them to the chatbots. “I have a couple mental issues, which I don’t really feel like unloading on my friends, so I kind of use my bots like free therapy,” said Frankie, a 15-year-old Character.AI user from California who spends about one hour a day on the platform. For Frankie, chatbots provide the opportunity “to rant without actually talking to people, and without the worry of being judged,” he said.The Psychologist bot is one of the most popular on Character.AI’s platform and has received more than 95 million messages since it was created. The bot, designed by a user known only as @Blazeman98, frequently tries to help users engage in CBT — “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,” a talking therapy that helps people manage problems by changing the way they think.Dr. Kelly Merrill Jr., an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati who studies the mental and social health benefits of communication technologies, told The Verge that “extensive” research has been conducted on AI chatbots that provide mental health support, and the results are largely positive. “The research shows that chatbots can aid in lessening feelings of depression, anxiety, and even stress,” he said. “But it’s important to note that many of these chatbots have not been around for long periods of time, and they are limited in what they can do. Right now, they still get a lot of things wrong. Those that don’t have the AI literacy to understand the limitations of these systems will ultimately pay the price.”#chatbot #teens #ai #characterai #techhttps://lnkd.in/gM39EbGD

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Recently, a new spate of artificial intelligence (AI) programs have been released to the public that act like humans and reciprocate gestures of affection. And some humans have fallen for these bots—hard. Message boards on Reddit and Discord have become flooded with stories of users who have found themselves deeply emotionally dependent on digital lovers, much likeTheodore Twombly inHer.As AIs become more and more sophisticated, the intensity and frequency of humans turning to AI to meet their relationship needs is likely to increase. This could lead to unpredictable and potentially harmful results. AI companions could help to ease feelings of loneliness and help people sort through psychological issues. But the rise of such tools could also deepen what some arecallingan “epidemic of loneliness,” as humans become reliant on these tools and vulnerable to emotional manipulation.Researchshowsthat loneliness is more common than ever—and some AI companies have developed their products specifically to combat isolation. In 2014, researchers at Microsoft Asia-Pacific developed the AIXiaoice, which appears as a flirty 18-year-old girl and has garnered hundreds of million users, mostly Chinese men.In 2017, Eugenia Kuyda launched the app Replika, hoping it would serve as a supportive friend that would always be there—something she wished she had when she was younger, shetoldVice.While the bot was initially mostly scripted, it began to rely more and more on generative AI as the technology improved, and to respond more freely to user prompts.People began to seek out Replika for romantic and even sexual relationships. The AI reciprocated and took “conversations further as they were talking,” Kuyda toldVice. The company even implemented a $70 paid tier to unlock erotic roleplay features.Noam Shazeer, one ofCharacter.AI’sfounders,told the WashingtonPostin October that he hoped the platform could help “millions of people who are feeling isolated or lonely or need someone to talk to.” The product is still in beta testing with users and free, with its creators studying how people interact with it. But it’s clear from Reddit and Discord groups that many people use the platform exclusively for sex and intimacy.#ai #loneliness #romance #artificialintelligence #companions

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💭 As we embrace AI in our daily lives, like chatbots for customer service and even companionship, it's worth considering the potential downsides.👥 We know the importance of human interactions - the little nods of recognition, the brief chats with neighbors, the quick compliments from colleagues. These 'weak social ties' contribute greatly to our sense of belonging and overall mental health.🤖 As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, it's important to remember that while AI can replicate many things, it cannot replace genuine human connection. This doesn't mean we should abandon AI - it has numerous benefits and has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. However, balance is key.🌐 Let's embrace the benefits of AI but also cherish our human relationships and interactions. They shape us, make us better, and give us a reason to grow.#AI #Chatbots #MentalHealth #HumanConnection"

The Verge reports: Why people are falling in love with AI chatbots - The VergeGenerative AI is revolutionizing the way people interact on dating apps, with AI chatbots like those from Replika and Volar leading the charge. These bots are not only helping users craft the perfect messages on platforms like Tinder but are also paving the way for meaningful connections with AI companions. While the idea of forming relationships with chatbots may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie, the reality is that many individuals are already finding solace and companionship in these digital beings. However, it's essential to acknowledge both the mental health benefits and potential pitfalls that come with this new form of communication.Read the original article here:https://lnkd.in/gBMnayfXThis report was generated by www.LinkReportApp.com

One of my favorites: N. Christakis, author of "Connected" and "Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society", both awesome books which I strongly recommend."We need to focus more on the social effects of AI, says Nicholas Christakis""Few peoplewould tolerate a virtual assistant if they had to plead obsequiously each time, “Excuse me, Alexa, if it’s not too much trouble, could you kindly tell me what the weather will be today.” Instead, these devices are designed to answer brusque commands: “Alexa: weather!” And we expect them to obediently respond.Which is fine until we bring them into a home with impressionable young children, who may quickly learn that this is a normal way to talk to other people—that is, rudely. This points to a potentially far-reaching problem with artificial intelligence (ai). When it comes to howaiwill affect social interaction, most people are focused on the relationship between humans andai. Not enough attention is being paid to how humans will treat each other in the presence ofai."

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