Imagine if you had a friend who never disagreed with you. A friend who never told you that you are wrong. Who is available to talk to you at any given time of the day. And even lets you dominate the conversation.<\/p>\n
While this may sound impossible, technology has allowed this to become a reality, courtesy AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT. In fact, many children and adults alike are dumping their human confidants only to replace them with digital BFFS \u2014 ChatGPT.<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what is going on.<\/p>\n
ChatGPT is replacing the BFF<\/p>\n
Ever since its launch in November 2022, conversational AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, has been used for everything: writing emails, planning holidays, creating memes and even seeking medical advice.<\/p>\n
However, in recent times, adults and children have resorted to using AI chatbots to act as synthetic computer friends.<\/p>\n
Take the case of 28-year-old Charlotte from UK\u2019s Somerset. She started chatting with ChatGPT in 2023. \u201cI remember using it for work \u2013 as a search tool and grammar checker \u2013 when the tech first launched, then I started using it for personal reasons,\u201d she told The Independent.<\/p>\n
Later, Charlotte would input experiences from her actual life into ChatGPT \u2013 like she and the people she interacted with were characters in a book \u2013 then ask the AI to give her an objective assessment of what had happened from the perspective of a psychoanalytic therapist.<\/p>\n
Adults and children have resorted to using AI chatbots to act as synthetic computer friends. AI generated image<\/b><\/p>\n
And Charlotte isn\u2019t alone in using ChatGPT more as a friend rather than a tool to simplify life. A UK report, Me, Myself & AI, reveals that a growing number of children are turning to AI chatbots not just to study but even for companionship.<\/p>\n
The study showed that almost 64 per cent of children resort to AI chatbots for help with everything from homework to emotional advice and companionship. And more than a third of those users, 35 per cent, said it \u201cfeels like talking to a friend.\u201d Additionally, 12 per cent said they talk to these bots because they have no one else to talk to.<\/p>\n
But why choose AI chatbots rather than humans<\/p>\n
There are many reasons as to why so many of us are opting for AI companionship. First, is the global pandemic of loneliness. The World Health Organisation (Who) has found that over 871,000 deaths are linked to In fact, a study as far back as 2008 showed that people are more likely to humanise animals and gadgets when they\u2019re lonely. \u201cPeople engage in a variety of behaviours to alleviate the pain of social disconnection,\u201d the authors of the study noted, including \u201cinventing human-like agents in their environments to serve as potential sources of connection\u201d.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Social media is also to blame for this trend popularising the practice of using ChatGPT as a friend. Scroll through TikTok and Instagram and there are multiple reels in which influencers advocate for ChatGPT to be relied on instead of conversing with humans. One person claims the tech \u201ccares and gives better advice\u201d than their social circle.<\/p>\n Users of these chatbots also note that there\u2019s no fear of judgement. Many of the children who use AI as their friend say they aren\u2019t worried about the repercussions of divulging their secrets to AI. There\u2019s no social pressure and no risk of gossip. Also, unlike friends who have their own busy schedules, AI chatbots provide instant responses, making the individuals feel heard.<\/p>\n Is it safe to forego friends for chatbots?<\/p>\n
\nloneliness<\/a>. That\u2019s more than 100 people every hour, a figure that rivals the global death tolls from major diseases such as heart conditions and diabetes. Amid this situation, many children are opting to divulge their secrets and talk about their lives to a chatbot.<\/p>\nIn a survey, 12 per cent said they talk to these bots because they have no one else to talk to. Representational image\/Pixabay<\/b><\/p>\n