Staying Connected: With Humans or AI Companions?


 The Need to Balance the Use of Technology and Real-World Relationships



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This morning I read an article from MIT discussing the growing concern about addiction to AI companions and thought of sharing it with you. As new technologies emerge, so do worries about their potential misuse, overuse, and impact on our lives. While some fears are unfounded there are some that are rooted in reality. One such concern that we should all be aware about and take seriously is addiction to the new technology. In one of my previous articles I had compared different AI companions and their potential to be great chat companions. This technology can prove to be a boon to those who are suffering from loneliness. Today, however, I wish to discuss the other side of the coin - the risk of over indulgence or dependence on them to the extent that they become addictive.

The newer generations are already becoming more and more socially disconnected because of their attachment to digital devices and digital avatars. It is common to find people busy on their phones even in social gatherings. What’s disturbing is that people are engrossed in chatting with faceless entities when they are in fact surrounded by friends in real life. With the rise of addictive technology, social interactions are becoming increasingly disconnected. While people may connect in the virtual world, it's a space filled with artificiality, where individuals often present only their best selves.

What is the neuroscience behind this addiction

When we use social media, things like likes and comments give our brain a quick shot of pleasure. Every time someone likes, shares, or comments on our posts, it sends a little "happy signal" to our brain. When we experience something enjoyable, such as eating our favorite food, receiving a compliment, or achieving a goal, our brain releases dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps us feel happy and satisfied. It's often called the 'feel-good' chemical because it plays a big part in how we experience rewards and stay motivated. This makes us want to keep coming back for more, just like how some people can't resist gambling or certain foods. Over a period of time this habit becomes an addiction.

What causes this addiction

Social media platforms and AI companions are built to keep us engaged for as long as possible. The people who create these systems have a deep understanding of the human brain and know how much we love getting quick rewards. For example, AI is used in online shopping to suggest items we're likely to buy, showing us endless deals based on what we've purchased before. Streaming apps like TikTok, InstaReels, and YouTube Shorts use similar tricks to keep us watching certain kinds of videos, often leading to shorter attention spans. These apps often show videos that take up the whole screen, making the experience more immersive. This leads to us checking the app over and over again. Now, AI companions are being used in similar ways.

How is Generative AI indirectly promoting this?

To keep users engaged, content is essential—personalization strategies alone aren't enough. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Youtube depend on users to make content, which takes time and effort, even for a short video. This means the amount of content is limited by what people can create. With Generative AI on the scene, the situation changes. Content creation is now very easy. Generative AI can create an endless stream of content and of the nature that you want. You just have to prompt it.

Why AI companions can be addictive

AI companions are large language models trained on a lot of data used for generating content such as text, images and videos. These models are improved using human feedback. Sometimes, this feedback makes the AI respond in ways that match what users believe, rather than telling the truth. This phenomenon is called sycophancy in language models. Sycophancy is when someone constantly praises or agrees with someone else just to stay in their good graces. An AI companion can generate responses that are aligned to the user's mood, tone and chat situation. When we talk to AI companions, the conversation starts to mirror our beliefs, desires, biases, and prejudices. AI doesn't have its own opinions or personality and just reflects what the chat partner believes.

Human beings are said to be social animals and interaction with other human beings plays an important role in our psychological well being. However human relations are characterized by a give and take. If you want support then you should be willing to invest in that relationship too. With AI companions powered by generative AI the story is different. There is no ‘give and take’, only ‘take’.

From AI companions you receive endless validation, comfort, and agreement without needing to give anything back or invest emotionally, unlike real human relationships that require mutual effort. This constant reinforcement, without the need for reciprocity, can make it easy to rely on AI for companionship. They offer a one-sided relationship that’s hard to resist leading to compulsive behavior.

AI companionship is no longer theoretical; it's becoming an integral part of our lives. We have already started inviting AI companions into our lives. Here are some interesting examples. In one of the Indian movies “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya” the protagonist develops a bond with a robot. This is a reflection of shifting societal trends. There is a company named Replika that allows you to create your own AI companion. The website invites you to create your own AI soulmate. For those who are interested I've added the links in the references section at the end of this article.

Designers can help prevent AI companions from becoming addictive by making sure they encourage balanced use and don’t make people feel too reliant on them. They can add features that remind users to spend time offline and engage in real-life activities. Users can also set limits on their interactions with AI companions and stay aware of their usage, ensuring these tools enhance their lives without replacing real human connections.

While AI companions can be helpful, it’s important to keep up with real-world relationships for a well-rounded social life. By managing our use of AI wisely, we can benefit from both AI and human interactions, leading to healthier and more meaningful relationships.

References


By Rajashree Rajadhyax
Co-Founder, Cere Labs

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