Abstract: Robotics specialists argue that AI expertise might assist alleviate loneliness. New analysis means that AI companionship can supply social interplay and assist folks follow social expertise, breaking the cycle of loneliness.
Nevertheless, they warn that regulation could also be wanted to stop extreme dependence on AI. AI’s potential on this space might result in important developments in understanding each human and synthetic intelligence.
Key Information:
- AI Companionship: AI expertise can supply social interplay to fight loneliness.
- Well being Affect: Loneliness will increase the chance of untimely demise by 26% and is linked to numerous well being points.
- Regulation Wanted: Potential dangers embrace customers changing into overly depending on AI, requiring regulation.
Supply: Taylor and Francis Group
Synthetic Intelligence (AI) expertise might supply companionship to lonely folks amid a world epidemic of loneliness, says a robotics professional.
Tony Prescott, a professor of cognitive robotics on the College of Sheffield, argues in his new e-book The Psychology of Synthetic Intelligence that ‘relationships with AIs might assist folks’ with types of social interplay..
Loneliness has been discovered to noticeably impair human well being, and Professor Prescott makes a case that advances in AI expertise might supply a partial resolution.
He argues that folks can spiral into loneliness, changing into more and more disconnected as their confidence plummets, and that AI may assist folks to ‘break the cycle’ by giving them a approach to follow and enhance their social expertise.
The impression of loneliness
Loneliness – or social disconnection – is extra dangerous to human well being than weight problems, in line with a 2023 report. It might probably enhance the chance of untimely demise by 26% and is related to a better danger of heart problems, dementia, stroke, melancholy and anxiousness.
The extent of the issue is placing: within the UK 3.8 million individuals are experiencing persistent loneliness. A Harvard research within the US discovered that 36% of US adults – and 61% of younger adults – expertise severe loneliness.
Professor Prescott says: “In an age when many individuals describe their lives as lonely, there could also be worth in having AI companionship as a type of reciprocal social interplay that’s stimulating and customized. Human loneliness is commonly characterised by a downward spiral wherein isolation results in decrease vanity which discourages additional interplay with folks.
“There could also be methods wherein AI companionship might assist break this cycle by scaffolding emotions of self-worth and serving to keep or enhance social expertise. In that case, relationships with AIs might assist folks to seek out companionship with each human and synthetic others.”
He does recommend this isn’t with out danger, nevertheless, because it might be ‘designed to encourage customers to work together for longer and longer durations and to maintain them coming again’, and suggests regulation could also be wanted.
AI and the human mind
Prescott is a number one professional on the connection between the human mind and AI, combining experience in robotics and AI with psychology and philosophy. He contributes to the scientific understanding of the human situation by researching the re-creation of notion, reminiscence, and emotion in artificial entities.
In addition to researching and educating cognitive robotics on the College of Sheffield, Prescott can be the co-founder of Sheffield Robotics, which is a hub for robotics analysis.
In The Psychology of Synthetic Intelligence, Prescott explores the character of the human thoughts and its cognitive processes and compares and contrasts this with the best way AI is growing.
The e-book explores questions together with:
- Are computer systems actually like brains?
- Will AI surpass people?
- Does AI have the power to be inventive?
- Would giving AI a robotic physique allow it to create new varieties of intelligence?
- Might AI assist us sort out local weather change?
- And will people ‘piggyback’ on AI to increase their very own intelligence?
He concludes: “As psychology and AI proceed, this partnership ought to unlock additional insights into each pure and synthetic intelligence. This might assist reply some key questions on what it means to be human and for people to dwell alongside AI.”
About this AI and loneliness analysis information
Creator: Becky Parker-Ellis
Supply: Taylor and Francis Group
Contact: Becky Parker-Ellis – Taylor and Francis Group
Picture: The picture is credited to Neuroscience Information
Authentic Analysis: The e-book, “The Psychology of Synthetic Intelligence” is available for purchase on-line.
