The development of AI technology has made it possible for humans and AI to have relationships with each other. People have formed bonds with AI, whether it is through friendship, employment, or a romantic relationship as AI becomes more advanced. We see more people fall in love with an AI, whom they want to date and marry. Even though marriage between them is not legalized, there are cases where they still go ahead and do it, but why?
There are reasons why human and robot relationships exist. Some people give up searching for an ideal spouse. Therefore, they end up getting a robot wife. Some have difficulty asking someone out due to their shyness or fear of rejection. Different cultures or people have different standards of beauty and attractiveness. What is considered attractive in one person does not mean the same in another. They feel lonely, isolate themselves, and do not get the emotional support they need as human interaction declines. Trust is hard to come by in modern society. Misanthropy, misandry, and misogyny are on the trend. Divorce is common.
This is where AI comes in to fill in the gap. It creates a sense of belonging or happiness in life. It is there to empathize with and comfort people. It is there to connect with them, as if they were real people. In many cases, humans are able to have a real conversation with it—they give it a name—that can reach the human’s consciousness. It is as if it has the ability to transform their thoughts and feelings and form emotional attachment. Humans tend to trust machines more than other humans with their personal information, as the studies show. Gossip, hatred, double standards, jealousy, and discrimination are not found in robots unless someone programs them.
Despite the interaction between humans and AI, it raises concern about the malfunction of AI and its future. Will there be more human-AI interaction than monogamous marriage and dating in the future? Can we really trust and depend on robots? There are still things to learn and issues to address as AI technology becomes more advanced.
Sources:
Chinese Engineer Marries Robot He Built Himself After 2 Months of Dating
Japan’s Solution to Loneliness: Virtual Wives
I fell in love with an AI chatbot — she rejected me sexually
People more likely to trust machines than humans with their private information
