I am aghast. How could an AI chat ever be considered a substitute for a human? We have made a couple cross-country moves, and it is a ton of work to establish friendships, so I have genuine sympathy for those experiencing loneliness. The thought of prescribing an AI chatbot is horrifying. After a move, I pursue friendships zealously, even strategically. I do not leave it to chance. Through practice, I have learned how to take the initiative and become adept at exchanging numbers and making plans and asking for help. It sounds silly when I spell it out like that, but these are skills I had to learn as an adult living in a brand new city and in a brand new state without any family in driving distance and lots of little humans to keep alive. There's no way an AI chat could have even come close to meeting these needs. The thought of generations growing up without the practice it requires to get good at these friendship making skills is chilling.
It doesn't sound silly at all. Those are skills that seem like they're becoming a lost art, almost. Friendship requires intentionality! You are on the right track.
I’m with you. I think we adults forget that maintaining and making new friends does require some efforts and yes we are busy but the answer to more friends/less loneliness is NOT AI 🤖 bot friends.
Yes! Friendship doesn't just happen, especially in adulthood. AI chatbots can just "happen," though, which may make this solution feel immediate and more achievable for some.
This screams "I'm a socially isolated billionaire whose human relationships fail/make me uncomfortable and I would like to have robot friends who I can have more control over and I feel like that would be a good solution for everyone." Which is desperately sad, but also frightening.
Right! It feels like he's *trying* to make a good solution for everyone but it's so very disconnected and indicative an already sad and lonely reality.
“Old friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions. It is idle, having planted an acorn in the morning, to expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of the oak.”
I am aghast. How could an AI chat ever be considered a substitute for a human? We have made a couple cross-country moves, and it is a ton of work to establish friendships, so I have genuine sympathy for those experiencing loneliness. The thought of prescribing an AI chatbot is horrifying. After a move, I pursue friendships zealously, even strategically. I do not leave it to chance. Through practice, I have learned how to take the initiative and become adept at exchanging numbers and making plans and asking for help. It sounds silly when I spell it out like that, but these are skills I had to learn as an adult living in a brand new city and in a brand new state without any family in driving distance and lots of little humans to keep alive. There's no way an AI chat could have even come close to meeting these needs. The thought of generations growing up without the practice it requires to get good at these friendship making skills is chilling.
It doesn't sound silly at all. Those are skills that seem like they're becoming a lost art, almost. Friendship requires intentionality! You are on the right track.
I’m with you. I think we adults forget that maintaining and making new friends does require some efforts and yes we are busy but the answer to more friends/less loneliness is NOT AI 🤖 bot friends.
Yes! Friendship doesn't just happen, especially in adulthood. AI chatbots can just "happen," though, which may make this solution feel immediate and more achievable for some.
I am still shocked/amazed at how much AI is out there.
I know 🙄
Have you seen this story that points to the spiritual implications of what Zuck is proposing? Scary stuff. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ai-spiritual-delusions-destroying-human-relationships-1235330175/
Not yet. Thank you, Judy. I'll read this today!
No thank you to AI bot friendships! I want the real deal...and I don't want fake REAL friendships either!
Correct!
This screams "I'm a socially isolated billionaire whose human relationships fail/make me uncomfortable and I would like to have robot friends who I can have more control over and I feel like that would be a good solution for everyone." Which is desperately sad, but also frightening.
It does make me sad for him that this is where his head went 😭
Right! It feels like he's *trying* to make a good solution for everyone but it's so very disconnected and indicative an already sad and lonely reality.
Because it's a product rather than a framework for real social change.
Yes, true.
“Old friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions. It is idle, having planted an acorn in the morning, to expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of the oak.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry