Are chatbots really the answer to our loneliness epidemic?
Your Back Page scribbler loves a good survey.
In particular, we enjoy the way the results are pretty much always solemnly reported as stone-cold facts and almost never does anyone think to question that at least some of the respondents might be having a bit of a laugh when they tick the boxes.
That possibility certainly crossed our mind when we learned that, according to a recent YouGov survey, one in seven adult Australians could imagine themselves falling in love with an AI chatbot. This number nearly doubles among respondents who identify as Generation Z.
One reason we raise a quizzical eyebrow when we see such findings is definitely coloured by our own personal interactions with chatbots. These encounters have been exclusively the result of trying to ask a simple question of a bank, insurance company, communications provider et al, and have invariably provoked a white-hot maelstrom of frustration.
“No, this response has NOT answered my question. Can I PLEASE talk to a human being!!” is the inevitable denouement of these chatbot relationships, amid the muttering of dark curses and vows to change providers forthwith.
But clearly at least some folks (but surely not 15%) are getting on so well with their AI companions that they can envisage walking down the electronic aisle and pledging their troth to a cleverly constructed assemblage of bits and bytes.
The YouGov survey uncovered some other perturbing findings, including 28% of adults saying they’ve opened up or been emotionally vulnerable with a chatbot at least once and 17% say they’d sometimes rather stay home and talk to a chatbot than go out with friends.
Perhaps more tellingly, the YouGov pollsters found nearly four in 10 Australians feel lonely even when surrounded by other people, with that figure rising to 49% among Generation Zedders.
If that number rings true, then as a society we must be staring down the barrel of a mental health epidemic that will make today’s issues seem trivial.
What’s even more frightening is the AI chatbot pedlars are clearly already gearing up to exploit this tsunami of loneliness, and, call me an old cynic if you like, but we don’t reckon their motives for doing this are entirely honourable.
But given the reluctance of our governments to give serious thought to investing in human-based resources to address our mental health crisis, we can only see things getting worse.
And if chatbots are the answer to this problem, then, clearly, we are not asking the right questions in the first place.
Affirm your humanity by sending story tips to Holly@medicalrepublic.com.au
