The author acknowledges that AI-based relationships, such as those offered by Replika, may provide a sense of intimacy and companionship for those who struggle to form connections in real life, possibly even helping to alleviate loneliness and assisting in finding long-term relationships. However, the author is conflicted about the rise of these “girlfriend-like AI experiences” (GFAIE), arguing that they may also create negative externalities, such as reducing the incentive to seek out real relationships, destabilizing existing ones, and potentially leading to greater loneliness and social isolation. While AI bots may offer a cheap and convenient alternative to human intimacy, the author suggests that they can never truly replicate the mutuality and emotional depth of real relationships, and thus may ultimately do more harm than good.

by Llama 3 70B