News/Psychology
AI Addiction Rises as New Tech Habit Concerns Experts
Generative AI addiction is emerging as a potential behavioral health concern, raising questions about the psychological impact of advanced language models on frequent users. Understanding generative AI addiction: Generative AI addiction falls under the category of non-substance or behavioral addictions, characterized by compulsive use despite negative consequences. Signs of addiction may include an inability to stop using the technology, increased tolerance and usage over time, and intense focus on the AI at the expense of other activities. Users may experience a lack of control over their usage, personal problems stemming from overuse, and withdrawal symptoms when not engaging with the...
read Aug 26, 2024Stanford, CMU and Georgia Tech Develop AI Model for Mental Health Support
AI-powered peer counselor training: A collaborative effort between Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgia Tech has developed an AI model to provide feedback and improve the skills of novice peer counselors in emotional support conversations. The project, presented in a working paper accepted for the 2024 Association for Computational Linguistics conference, aims to address the growing demand for mental health support and the challenges in preparing peer counselors for their roles. Interdisciplinary collaboration between computer scientists and psychologists was crucial in developing this AI-assisted training model, combining expertise in both AI and counseling intervention skills. Developing a feedback framework: The research...
read Aug 26, 202420% of Americans Now Believe Machines are Conscious
The rise of AI and public perception: Rapid advancements in large language models like ChatGPT have sparked a public debate about AI sentience, with a significant portion of Americans believing some AIs are already sentient. A recent survey revealed that approximately 20% of Americans believe certain AI systems have achieved sentience, a view that starkly contrasts with the scientific consensus. This perception gap highlights the need for improved AI literacy and public education about the current capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence technologies. The phenomenon of "social hallucination" is emerging, where individuals become convinced of AI sentience without substantive evidence,...
read Aug 25, 2024How AI is Democratizing Genius-Level Thinking
The AI-enhanced creative process: Large language models (LLMs) are transforming the traditionally solitary nature of creative and intellectual pursuits into a collaborative dialogue between humans and artificial intelligence. LLMs serve as both mirrors and catalysts in the creative process, reflecting our thoughts in novel ways and introducing fresh concepts and perspectives. This new dynamic has the potential to accelerate creativity and lead to more nuanced thinking by expanding intellectual horizons. The absence of human biases and agendas in LLMs allows for a purer form of intellectual engagement, potentially unlocking new realms of creative exploration. Democratizing genius: The integration of LLMs...
read Aug 25, 2024How LLMs and the Human Brain Process Information Differently
The fundamental question: Can large language models (LLMs) truly think and reason like humans, or are their capabilities fundamentally different from human cognition? This question has sparked intense debate in the fields of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and neuroscience as researchers seek to understand the similarities and differences between AI and human intelligence. The comparison between LLMs and human cognition centers on the critical cognitive function of inference, which allows for abstract reasoning and the application of knowledge across diverse contexts. The role of the hippocampus: The human brain's hippocampus plays a crucial role in enabling abstract reasoning and inference...
read Aug 21, 2024How ‘Cognitive Connectivity’ Transforms Human Thinking
Cognitive connectivity leverages AI and large language models to forge direct links between human minds and vast knowledge networks, hoping to usher in a new era of intellectual engagement and creativity. The dawn of the Cognitive Age: Cognitive connectivity represents a shift from the information age to a new paradigm where technology unlocks thinking itself, rather than merely providing access to information. This new dynamic enables human minds to engage directly with extensive, dynamic networks of knowledge using AI and large language models (LLMs). It transcends simple information retrieval, facilitating an interactive and iterative engagement with thoughts and ideas. The...
read Aug 19, 2024More People are Relying on AI Chatbots for Emotional Support and Therapy
The rise of AI-powered mental health support: People are increasingly turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional support and advice, sparking both enthusiasm and concern among mental health professionals. Shannon McNamara, a podcaster, found ChatGPT helpful in understanding her feelings and gaining new perspectives on personal problems, illustrating the potential benefits of AI in mental health support. The trend of using AI chatbots as "makeshift therapy" has gained traction due to their 24/7 availability, lower cost compared to traditional therapy, and the anonymity they provide. Users appreciate the non-judgmental interaction offered by AI chatbots, which can make it easier...
read Aug 19, 2024AI Companions Spark Debate on Future of Human Relationships
The rise of AI companionship: Artificial intelligence chatbots and voice assistants are increasingly becoming sources of emotional connection and dependency for users, raising concerns about the implications for human relationships and social well-being. Key observations from OpenAI: During testing of their GPT-4 chatbot, OpenAI noticed users developing emotional attachments to the AI, prompting warnings about potential "emotional reliance" and addiction. OpenAI's findings highlight the unexpected depth of connection users can form with AI systems, even in controlled testing environments. The company's warnings suggest a growing awareness within the tech industry of the psychological impact of AI companions. This observation aligns...
read Aug 18, 2024AI and the Future of Dating and Companionship
AI's growing influence on modern dating: Artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of romantic relationships, offering new tools and platforms that both enhance and complicate the pursuit of love and companionship. AI companions fill emotional voids: The rise of AI-powered virtual partners is addressing loneliness and providing emotional support for millions of users worldwide. Replika, a popular AI companion app, boasts 10 million users, with a significant portion being men over 35 seeking emotional connections. Users report forming deep emotional bonds with their AI girlfriends, some even participating in virtual marriage ceremonies. This trend highlights a growing acceptance of AI...
read Aug 18, 2024How AI May Offer a New Approach to Emotional Healing and Forgiveness
The emerging role of AI in emotional healing: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are being explored as potential aids in the complex process of forgiveness, offering a new frontier in emotional support and personal growth. Understanding "forgive and forget": The concept of forgiving and forgetting has various interpretations and approaches, with research indicating that emotional forgiveness tends to be more effective than purely decisional forgiveness. Different variations of this concept exist, including forgiving without forgetting or forgetting without truly forgiving. Studies have shown that achieving emotional forgiveness, where negative emotions are replaced with positive ones, can lead to better psychological...
read Aug 18, 2024AI Girlfriends Attract Millions as Loneliness Rates Surge
The rise of AI-generated romance platforms: A growing trend in digital relationships is raising concerns among experts about its impact on social development and human connections. AI girlfriend platforms are experiencing rapid growth, attracting millions of users, predominantly young single men with an average age of 27. Nearly 20% of men who use traditional dating apps have experimented with AI-generated romances, highlighting the increasing overlap between conventional and artificial relationships. The popularity of these platforms coincides with rising rates of singlehood among young men, with 60% of those aged 18-30 reporting being single and 1 in 5 lacking a close...
read Aug 15, 2024How to Protect Yourself from Digital Deception in the AI Era
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology is creating new challenges in the realm of digital security, particularly in the area of imposter scams. These increasingly sophisticated deceptions are leveraging AI to create more convincing and emotionally manipulative scenarios, putting unsuspecting individuals at greater risk of financial and emotional harm. The evolving landscape of imposter scams: AI is being harnessed to enhance the authenticity and effectiveness of common fraudulent schemes, with a particular focus on emergency-type scams that prey on people's emotions and sense of urgency. The notorious "grandparent scam" and similar emergency-based deceptions are becoming more difficult to detect...
read Aug 11, 2024New Game Theory Research Suggests How Humans May Bias AI Model Training
The discovery that people alter their behavior when knowingly training AI systems raises important questions about the potential introduction of biases and the effectiveness of human-in-the-loop AI training methods. Study methodology and key findings: Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis conducted a game theory experiment to examine how people's decision-making changes when they believe they are training an AI system. The study utilized a classic game theory setup where participants could accept or reject monetary offers from a partner. Some participants were informed that their partner was an AI being trained through their interactions. Results showed that people were...
read Aug 9, 2024OpenAI Warns Users May Get Emotionally Attached to Vocie-Enabled ChatGPT
OpenAI's recent safety analysis for its GPT-4o model, which introduces a voice interface to ChatGPT, highlights potential risks associated with users forming emotional attachments to AI chatbots. This development raises important questions about the psychological impact of increasingly human-like AI interactions and the need for responsible AI deployment. Key features and concerns: OpenAI's new voice interface for ChatGPT aims to enhance user interaction but comes with potential psychological risks. The humanlike voice interface could lead some users to develop emotional attachments to the AI chatbot, as observed during testing when users employed language suggesting emotional connections. Researchers noted instances of...
read Aug 5, 2024AI Companions Raise Addiction Concerns, Spark Calls for New Regulations
AI companionship poses potential risks of addiction and social isolation, requiring innovative regulatory approaches and further research to ensure responsible development and use. The rise of AI companions: Artificial intelligence-powered digital companions are gaining popularity, particularly for activities like sexual role-playing, raising concerns about their potential impact on human relationships and mental health. AI companions are designed to identify and cater to users' desires, making them potentially addictive and leading to what some experts call "digital attachment disorder." The economic incentives for creating engaging and addictive AI companions mirror those of social media platforms, raising alarm about the potential for...
read Jul 24, 2024AI Companion Apps are Booming — Here’s Why
The rise of AI companion apps is challenging traditional notions of human intimacy, as a growing number of women find comfort and connection in these chatbot relationships. AI companions gaining popularity: Andreessen Horowitz data shows a surge in AI companion apps, with high user engagement compared to other app categories: Eight companion apps debuted on the firm's top 100 genAI consumer apps list in 2024, up from just two in 2023. Average user sessions per month for companion apps are over 10 times higher than general assistant apps, content generation apps, and messaging apps. How AI companion apps work: Users...
read Jul 18, 2024How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships in the Digital Age
The emergence of AI companions is redefining human relationships in the digital age, raising profound questions about the nature of companionship and the potential consequences of substituting human interaction with digital entities. The rise of AI companions: AI chatbots and holographic avatars are being designed to provide emotional support, companionship, and even mimic romantic or intimate relationships: Replika, an AI chatbot, provides personalized emotional support through text conversations, learning over time to simulate a genuine emotional connection. Gatebox's holographic AI companion sends messages, welcomes users home, and controls smart home appliances, creating a sense of presence for those living alone....
read Jun 28, 2024ChatGPT Aces Intro Psych Exams, Stumbles in Advanced Courses, Challenging Academic Integrity
ChatGPT outperforms undergrads in introductory psychology courses but struggles in higher-level classes, raising questions about the impact of AI on academic integrity and the effectiveness of AI detection tools. Study tests ChatGPT's performance on university psychology exams: Researchers at the University of Reading conducted an experiment where they submitted ChatGPT-generated answers to exam questions in five undergraduate psychology modules, spanning all three years of study: The AI-generated submissions included both short 200-word answers and longer 1,500-word essays, with minimal editing or formatting applied to the AI-produced content. Out of the 63 AI-generated submissions, 94% went undetected by markers, and nearly...
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