Loneliness is a feeling all of us experience every now and then. Unfortunately, for a lot of people in our society, it’s a feeling that they experience often. Particularly among our elderly population, loneliness has become more and more prevalent. For many of these people, contacts are limited, and the lack of social interaction can have quite an impact on their lives. Whether it is just someone to talk to about the news, or to share gossips with, many of these people just need someone who listens. But with an aging population, and younger people’s lives becoming increasingly busier, could perhaps generative AI play a role in addressing these issues?
I recently came across an article that showed a new product that utilizes AI to help combat loneliness in elderly homes. The device consists of a ‘head’ with a speaker and camera in the form of a face, and a tablet as its body. The device first and foremost allows elderly people to come in contact with their friends and relatives in a more ‘human’ way than a video connection with a regular tablet or laptop would provide. But more importantly, the device also provides the possibility to be a conversation partner to people when their relatives are not available. By making use of generative AI technology, the device can react to questions and comments of the user in real-time. This functionality can be vital in addressing loneliness in the aging population, which is vital in reducing health risks for older people, recent research has shown (National Institute on Aging, 2019).
As AI technology continues to develop, it is likely that the distinction between human and AI-powered conversations will be increasingly harder to make. This raises the ethical question; can and should AI replace human social interaction? Personally, I think replacement should be out of the question, but I think it can be a useful tool in addressing the problem of loneliness in our society.
And you? Could you ever see yourself using an AI as a discussion partner?
References
Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks. (2019, 23 april). National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks
This is a very interesting AI tool that I haven’t heard of yet. I like that the tool provides several ways to use it, especially by helping people communicate with their loved ones in an alternative way. However, I do think that using this tool as a replacement for social interaction comes with its own risks. First, AI can’t replace social interaction. Although AI can address certain needs, it lacks the depth of genuine human relationships. The emotional depth, i.e. empathy, provided by social interactions is irreplaceable. In addition, I believe that this tool, which consists of a ‘head’, speaker, camera, and tablet, will be costly. This can further create a gap in income classes, and that is something that we try to combat. Furthermore, there is a potential risk that sensitive data can be stolen or misused, as I believe that the tool would require a person to share personal data to mimic human interaction. Last, I believe that it can lead to more loneliness. By using this AI tool, there is the possibility that a lonely person can get too attached to the device and therefore have fewer social interactions.
I am impressed by your post. Sometimes I felt lonely and needed someone by my side to share or even talk about something nonsense. Your discussion about a virtual partner is really interesting, however, I think I am not a supporter of this tendency. I need a true friend, someone in the flesh who has their own passion, their own stories, and their own uniqueness but not a machine. In addition, I am worried about the leakage of my personal information or cyber attack. Therefore, it had better that I need to look for a person to be with now.
Thank you for your insightful post! I personally use the ChatGPT’s voice chat function sometimes and I have to admit that the conversations can be quite human. AI interaction can of course not replace human interaction, but it can supplement it. In my opinion, it is better for the elderly to engage in conversations with AI than not to talk to anyone at all. At least older people that I know, watch a lot of TV or hear the radio to feel less lonely, so what’s the difference? Radio and TV are only supplemental interactions as well. What we have to watch out for is that everybody understands that if he/she engages in an AI conversation, which might be difficult to understand for some older people.
Your post highlights an essential topic: loneliness among the elderly. It’s interesting to learn about the AI device that can potentially provide company for them. While the idea of using AI as a discussion partner is intriguing, right now, I can’t imagine chatting with AI just for leisure. However, I would see myself using it to challenge my thoughts and viewpoints. I agree that nothing can truly replace genuine human interaction, but such innovations might be valuable additions for the elderly. Would I turn to AI for a chat? Maybe, but primarily for intellectual stimulation. Great read!