This article is part of the weekly Technology newsletter, sent every Friday. To receive it, you can sign up at this link.
Olivia Tai, a Harvard University graduate with a degree in Psychology, conducts sessions in New York and San Francisco to explore how individuals engage with artificial intelligence (AI). Recently, at the Mozilla Festival in Barcelona, she presented a session titled âYour Brother-in-Law ChatGPT: Love in the Time of AI.â Tai aims to uncover the personal and often private ways people interact with their favorite chatbots.
In her sessions, Tai emphasizes the vast array of interactions with AI, which she categorizes into 14 distinct types, ranging from âcasual conversationsâ to âexploring taboosâ and âexistential questions.â
Building on Tai's extensive research, we see two significant insights that affect our relationship with technology: the privacy surrounding personal interactions with ChatGPT and the growing importance of privacy today.
The Complexity of AI Interactions
According to Tai, understanding the nuances of ChatGPT usage is more challenging than tracking public platforms like Instagram. âTen years ago, if we discussed a new Instagram feature, everyone would know about it. Today, everyone's usage of ChatGPT varies significantly,â she notes. This makes it crucial to share personal experiences and insights into AI usage.
An Intimacy Economy Emerges
Tai introduces the concept of the âintimacy economy,â suggesting that AI will redefine our economic interactions. âAs we transitioned into an attention economy, where our time was consumed by social media, we found ourselves feeling lonely despite being connected,â she explains. This shift highlights the emergence of a privacy economy; in a healthier society, such services would not thrive.
Unspoken Uses of AI
In her sessions, Tai encourages participants to anonymously share their unconventional uses of AI. Some individuals upload their bosses' emails to navigate workplace dynamics better, while others may share personal health records or photos. However, Tai acknowledges that instances of AI-induced psychosis and romantic attachments to AI also raise concerns about the emotional well-being of users.
Questionable Engagements
Tai points out that many AI interactions may seem normal yet evoke doubt among users about their appropriateness. âIn the solitude of night, people feel compelled to ask questions to AI, seeking validation in ways never possible before,â she details. This creates a unique dynamic in which users explore personal thoughts and emotionsâlike sharing intimate journal entries with an AI.
Identity Exploration Through AI
Engaging with AI also raises questions about identity. Tai elaborates, âUsers often approach AI to discover deeper aspects of themselves: âWho am I? What do I need to understand about myself?'â While some interactions may resemble a digital monologue, others can prompt significant self-reflection.
Shifting Relationship Dynamics
AI interactions can lead to complex relationship dynamics. Ta discusses how individuals may feel jealousy over their partner's engagement with AI, with some even viewing it as a form of polyamory. As AI becomes more integrated into social situations, like holiday gatherings, its understanding of social contexts is expected to improve, leading to even more nuanced interactions.
Teenagers and AI Relationships
Tai is particularly concerned about younger individuals navigating relationships with AI. She notes that older generations are less likely to form intense connections with AI, primarily due to previous experiences with human relationships. In contrast, young people, especially those who have not yet engaged in romantic relationships, may develop unique connections with AI. Tai likens these youths to sensitive species in an ecosystem, reacting first to changes brought about by technology.
As companies target younger demographics with chatbots tailored for their interests, such as high school gossip, the potential for AI to influence social interactions will only grow. The implications of these evolving relationships warrant close attention in the coming years.
