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There is debate around whether AI girlfriends/partners will become popular and displace human relationships. The author believes they may appeal to some people but are unlikely to completely replace human intimacy on a large scale.
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Issues around the “authenticity” and humanity of relationships with AI companions are discussed. The author cites an anecdote about a disabled man who still preferred human cruelty over an emotionless robot. This suggests human connection has value even when flawed.
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The author draws comparisons between AI companions and other creative outlets like fiction, roleplaying, and fandom. These allow imaginative play and escapism without being complete substitutes for human relationships.
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Different motivations for using AI companions are outlined - some use them as coping mechanisms due to loneliness, some enjoy the fantasy/roleplay, some may use them in romance scams. Very few view AI as truly equal partners.
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More normalized trends predicted are extended online courtships before meeting in person, and ‘e-dating’ where relationships are entirely internet-mediated with little real-life contact. These allow some human connection while matching increasing social isolation/antisocial tendencies.
Summarized by Claude
A lot of information and conjecture there, but what a weirdly rambling article. Felt like it was taking 2 or 3 mostly distinct topics, then trying and failing to bring it around to a solid conclusion. There were several sentences, like the one I pasted below, that made me pretty sure this was written by an AI boyfriend/fictosexual partner.
That looks like me writing way too long sentences in German (my nother-tongue), before noticing that I severely got lost on my way