Recently I seen a lot of discussion of whether chatbots would ever be good enough to make girlfriends obsolete.
I think that that arguments would apply just as well for AI boyfriends, but there wasn’t any mention of boyfriends.
To me, a key part of a relationship is making a positive contribution to a partner’s life.
I don’t see this limitation being included in the discussion.
While there may be a type of A-Life in the future that would have such needs, it is not what seems to be envision in the chatbot romantic partner.
Why?
Is it that we have a demographic that doesn’t find this important?
Or that doesn’t believe themselves capable of it?
Or that hasn’t thought about it all?
If people have substitute relationships with chatbots, will the idea of be supportive of their partner simple never occur to them?
It scares me.
And saddens me.
A lot.
