The author references various sources, including a 2007 article by Sherry Turkle and an interview with a fictosexual, to explore different perspectives on the topic. The article also discusses the role of community in the use of AI companions, suggesting that discussing the AI companion with others who use them in the same way is as important as the software itself. The author concludes by suggesting that those seeking AI companions are likely individuals who are looking for human connection but are unable to find it.
Key takeaways:
- The author discusses the rise of AI companions and their potential impact on human relationships. They argue that while some people may find erotic roleplaying with AI appealing, it is unlikely to replace human interaction entirely.
- The author suggests that AI companions may be used as a form of play or erotica, similar to romance novels, and could also be used in romance scams against the naive and gullible.
- They also predict a potential increase in completely online relationships, where individuals fall in love entirely through online platforms and have never met in person.
- The author concludes that while we are becoming increasingly isolated and antisocial due to technology, we still crave human connection. Therefore, the future of relationships may lie in a human-machine-human interaction, rather than a human-machine one.