December’s twinkling lights have arrived, signaling a time of joy and togetherness. However, for some, the holiday season is marred by feelings of loneliness. Is OpenAI strategically launching its new companion feature just a week before Christmas? With tech companies offering an increasing array of virtual companionships, ChatGPT has unveiled a new phone number for calls and messages this week.
The tech industry has long recognized a prevailing sense of loneliness, prompting the development of various virtual solutions known broadly as AI companions. These virtual connections come in diverse forms, each with a unique focus. Replika is a popular AI-powered chatbot designed to be an ’empathetic friend’, boasting over 10 million subscribers who have personalized their own companions. On the other hand, Character.ai is an app that allows users to engage in conversations with fictional characters, either created by themselves or others. While this concept is not entirely novel, as evidenced by past iterations in computer games like The Sims and Second Life, or the various Japanese versions of a robotic girlfriend.
“Resilience”, Kintsugi art, Naoko Fukumaru. // Being alone is not the same as feeling lonely. A true … [+]
The advancement of Large Language Models and AI technologies has made virtual companions more lifelike and personalized. These AI companions offer a judgment-free and selfless presence, reflecting the user’s own identity and providing a substitute for genuine human connections – essentially fostering a relationship with a projected self, trained on opaque content and values. Despite these advancements, the issue of loneliness has not been resolved. Critics of such innovations argue that AI chatbots hinder our capacity for genuine empathy and have been associated with tragic incidents that incite violence towards oneself or others, particularly affecting vulnerable young individuals.
The Loneliness Epidemic
A recent article published in JAMA revealed that one-third of Americans aged 50 to 80 experienced feelings of loneliness in 2024. This study, based on six years of data from the University of Michigan’s National Poll, indicated a return to pre-pandemic levels following a significant surge in loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 era. Loneliness was more prevalent among individuals who rated their physical or mental health as fair or poor.
This alarming statistic, affecting a third of older adults, aligns with previous research showcasing a U-shaped curve of loneliness, peaking in young adulthood, decreasing in midlife, and resurging in later years. Northwestern University researchers have demonstrated this pattern on a global scale.
The prevalence of loneliness is so substantial that US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has labeled it ‘an epidemic of loneliness and isolation’, issuing an advisory report on this pressing public health issue. Loneliness not only affects mental health but also has detrimental impacts on our physical well-being, increasing the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and premature death by 60%. The report, consolidating various studies, also highlights that the absence of social connections is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Furthermore, loneliness impacts cognitive health, as evidenced by studies like a recent meta-analysis involving over 600 thousand individuals, which established a significant link between loneliness and dementia, even after considering other contributing factors.
Addressing the loneliness epidemic necessitates more than just technological advancements. Real-world social networks and interactions are dwindling at an alarming rate. Studies spanning nearly two decades have shown a drastic decline in the time individuals spend with friends, dropping from 30 hours per month in 2003 to a mere 10 hours in recent years. This trend is even more pronounced among individuals aged 15 to 24, with a nearly 70% reduction in time spent with friends, exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19. Ultimately, relationships with AI-powered chatbots amount to an extended conversation with oneself. Genuine relationships require genuine human connection and attention.
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