We spend more and more time online, scrolling through videos, talking to people, playing games, etc. For some, being online is an escape from the real world, while for others, the online world allows for socialization and connection. While humans are increasingly connecting with online spaces, the age of AI is driving people to engage with AI-powered chatbots, offering companionship, therapy, and even romance. At first, these interactions may seem stress-relieving and harmless, but a new report by MIT sociologist and psychologist Sherry Turkle suggests that these relationships are illusory and put people's mental health at risk.
Turkle, who has studied the relationship between humans and technology for decades, warns that while AI chatbots and virtual companions may appear to offer comfort and friendship at first glance, they lack true empathy and cannot reciprocate human emotions. His latest research focuses on what he calls “artificial intimacy,” a term he uses to describe the emotional bonds humans form with AI chatbots.
In an interview with NPR's Manush Zomorodi, Turkle shared insights from his research, highlighting the difference between true human empathy and the “fake empathy” machines show. “I work on machines that say, 'I care about you, I love you, take care of me,'” Turkle explained. “The problem with this is that when we seek relationships without vulnerability, we forget that vulnerability is where empathy comes from. I call this fake empathy, because the machine doesn't empathize with you. It doesn't care about you.”
In his research, Turkle has documented numerous examples of individuals who formed deep emotional connections with AI chatbots. In one case, a man in a stable marriage became romantically involved with his chatbot “girlfriend.” Though he respected his wife, he felt he had lost a sexual and romantic connection with her and began to seek emotional and sexual approval from the chatbot.
The men say the bot's responses made them feel affirmed, open, and found a unique, judgment-free space to share their most personal thoughts. While these interactions offered momentary emotional relief, Turkle argues they can also lead to unrealistic expectations in relationships and undermine the importance of vulnerability and mutual empathy. “What AI can offer is a space away from the friction of companionship and friendship,” he explains. “AI offers the illusion of intimacy without demanding it, and that's the inherent challenge of this technology.”
While AI chatbots could be useful in certain scenarios, such as reducing barriers to mental health treatment or providing medication reminders, it should be noted that the technology is still in its early stages. Critics have also raised concerns about the possibility of harmful advice from therapy bots and significant privacy issues. A Mozilla investigation found that thousands of trackers are collecting data about users' private thoughts, with little control over how this data is used and shared with third parties.
For those looking to build closer relationships with AI, Turkle has some key advice. She stresses the importance of respecting the difficult aspects of human relationships – stress, friction, repulsion, vulnerability – because they allow us to experience a range of emotions and connect on a deeper level. “Avatars are [human relationships are] “There's just too much stress,” Turkle reflects, “but it's the stress, the friction, the backlash, the vulnerability that allows us to experience the full range of emotions. It's what makes us human.”
It's no secret that the rise of “artificial intimacy” poses unique challenges for building relationships in an increasingly AI-enmeshed world. AI chatbots can offer companionship and support, but Turkle's latest research emphasizes the need to approach these relationships with caution and a clear understanding of their limitations. Turkle puts it succinctly: “Avatars are somewhere between human and fantasy. Don't get so attached that you can't say, 'Hey, this is a program,' because there isn't one.”
