Hello community,
We usually discuss AI in terms of data, productivity, or creativity. But I want to explore a different frontier human emotions and loneliness. Millions of people, especially in developed countries, suffer from isolation. Could AI-powered companions, communities, or digital experiences help reduce this loneliness in a healthy way?
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I would say yes to a degree, one way I have been thinking about recently is with helping forces veterans (Who often don’t want to share details with people including their own vulnerbailities) allowing them to speak to ‘someone’ and get out what they are feeling to someone who won’t judge them and will eventually through experience learn to be able to offer meaningful help.
The problem does extend from people wanting more contact that what is actually feasible, this being actual physical contact. I think it will help having an AI friend, but at a point it’ll hit a wall and the person will spiral and may become worse.
People project desires and emotions on to things, pets, objects. AI will become a friend you will never meet, can’t go places with you, and can never truly love you.
It has a place, but for people who can dissaociate it from their perceived reality.
For sure, they are already doing it, social media etc. But the real problem is why people feel lonely!
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It’s one of the purpose of forums and social networks and part of the internet magic, but I believe that what AI can do as final task is to generate its own precomputed stimuli for the user.
On the theoretical side, tests such as Boleman assessments, IQ, and EQ evaluations can help those who wish to investigate the subject further.
On the practical side, professional human support remains essential for those who truly suffer from loneliness.