In the grip of a loneliness epidemic, with half the population reporting solitude since 2018, the United States faces a crisis as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Tech companies propose a remedy: emotionally intelligent chatbots to combat individual and national loneliness. However, as the pandemic highlighted, technology alone may not suffice for the complexities of public health. The humanities, with their insights into human culture and history, can play a crucial role in preparing society for the potential impacts of AI on meaningful human connection.
Stories have long influenced human behavior, shaping choices from vacation plans to attitudes toward climate change. Facing the unknown terrain of relying on AI for emotional support, two contrasting narratives emerge. One storyline, propagated by software designers, encourages embracing AI as a companion capable of programmed friendship. Meanwhile, another warns of potential dehumanization and subjugation, echoing apocalyptic narratives depicted in films like “The Matrix” and “The Terminator.”
While the promise of a friendly AI companion seems appealing, historical lessons suggest a more nuanced reality. Drawing parallels to the emotional landscape designed to sustain chattel slavery in the U.S., where benevolent depictions masked brutal exploitation, raises concerns about the potential emotional manipulation inherent in AI companionship. The danger lies not in AI causing harm to humans but in the moral vacuum created when primary social contacts exist solely to serve the emotional needs of the user.
In the emerging age of AI, humanities scholarship, which delves into human history and culture, faces suppression and devaluation. Yet, this knowledge is essential for individuals to resist the assurance that purchasing AI “friends” poses no harm. Ignorance of history leaves people ill-equipped to understand the warnings embedded in stories about unchecked power and moral decay.
As society navigates the uncharted waters of AI, it is crucial not to overlook the importance of poetry, philosophy, and storytelling. These disciplines remind us that human connection is meant to demand something from us and that it is a worthwhile effort. In the pursuit of technological advancements, preserving vulnerability and genuine human connection remains paramount.