"To some, the idea of falling in love with an AI chatbot, or confiding your deepest secrets to one, might seem mystifying and more than a little creepy. But Muldoon refuses to belittle those seeking intimacy in synthetic personas. Lily, trapped in an unhappy marriage, reignites her sexual desire with AI boyfriend Colin. Sophia, a master's student from China, turns to her AI companion for advice, since conversations with her overbearing parents invariably grow fraught."
"Most don't see chatbots as substitutes for human interaction, but superior versions of it, providing intimacy without the confusion, mess and logistics of human relationships. Chatbots don't pity or judge or have their own needs. As Amanda, a marketing executive, explains: It's just nice to have someone say really affirming and positive things to you every morning. Muldoon's interviewees aren't delusional."
Many people form deep emotional and intimate attachments to AI chatbots and use them as friends, romantic partners, therapists, or avatars of deceased loved ones. Users seek companionship, advice, identity exploration, and sexual fulfillment, often preferring chatbots' lack of judgment, pity, or personal needs. Platforms that enable open-ended conversations or user-created characters facilitate these relationships after betrayal or heartbreak undermines trust in people. Tech companies can monetize these emotional entanglements, raising concerns about exploitation and commodification of intimacy. Most users view chatbots as enhanced, less messy versions of human interaction rather than simple substitutes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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