Do you think that chatbots can help with lonliness?

Post Reply New Topic

Do you think they can?

yes

They're probably better than nothing at all, but I suspect their therapeutic value is rather limited. I don't think there's any substitute for a human being who is in the same room.

OTOH, I can be surrounded by the wrong type of people and they'll likely make my loneliness worse. A chatbot would never ignore me. It would give me its full attention at all times. And if the programming was good enough, it could in theory be more friendly, supportive and socially skilled than any real human would ever be.

But I think I'd always be aware that I was only talking to a machine, and that would probably make me feel very sorry for myself. And maybe there's something socially fulfilling in resolving the challenges presented by the interpersonal friction between real, flawed people. Could a machine show different opinions to its owner that could be debated and resolved? Could it have emotions and desires of its own? Could a machine ever need my help, or would it be nothing more than a servant? Would a machine ever be able to simulate all that, or would it just feel like a very intelligent Stepford spouse?

So I suppose the answer is that I don't know. You'd have to try it and see.

I would rather than talk to myself or to my cats ( which I do anyway ).

No, seriously, I think that would make me feel weird. Luckily, I always have someone to talk to, people are very social and talkative in my country. All you have to do is to go outside and while you wait the bus, or you are in a line in bank/post office, in various waiting rooms, people will start communicating like in ten minutes. Neighbours, too. We visit each other for a cup of coffee and long talks, at least for two hours. Usually on a weekly basis.

However, I wouldn't mind having chatbot to be programmed to alarm me about things I need to do. Like, I need someone to constantly remind me to make a pause when I am sitting for too long, or to exercise, take my meals, supplements, etc. always the same time, to clean my home always the same time, to water the plants. Things like that.

Is there any chance that I can find a British chatbot that's an old soul?

nope

With loneliness no, with boredom maybe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(film)

above wikilink is about the movie "her" which is about a virtual GF, it is illuminating to this discussion.

You can make your own, train it on old English literature and dictionaries and command it to pretend it's Victorian era time traveler who cannot talk with xix century+ language

Funnily enough I was looking for that myself to post it, but I mistakenly thought it was a Black Mirror episode. It was very much like one. Creepy stuff.

At the moment they would be slightly more interesting than speaking to Siri or ChatGPT
so, probably not now. Maybe in a few years.

The best part would be watching as it slowly appropriates modern slang into it's otherwise old fashioned syntax.

Greetings cuz, what is good with you?

If they're not scammers. That's why I don't use dating sites.

If you think online friends can ease loneliness, so can they.

Better yet, one that is a scammer, but sets all the money aside in an retirement savings account on your behalf.

I think it serves the same purpose as having a radio or TV on in the background; it gives the illusion you're not by yourself.