Alchemy is a term used to describe a process that involves a mysterious transformation, creation, or combination, so it is fitting to use it when describing human interactions and the relationships that flow from them. While there are patterns common to the ways in which humans engage, the wide variety of deviations from those patterns that exist makes it clear that connection in the human realm involves a great deal of mystery.
The emotional alchemy of human interaction is a topic that plays a key role in the ongoing development of artificial intelligence. This is especially true for AI-driven applications that seek to replicate human interactions, such as platforms designed to provide AI companionship.
Deciphering genuine human connections
Solving the mystery of human connections requires analyzing a wide range of factors. Human emotions, for example, play an extremely influential role in the way human interactions play out. Because of the great variety of emotions and the depth of impact they can have, the influence of emotions on human actions is extremely difficult to anticipate.
Context also plays a key role in human interactions. Cultural contexts can contribute heavily to the way humans behave as well as the way behavior is interpreted — the same statement or gesture viewed as innocent in one culture can be considered threatening in another. Even within cultures, a comment made among friends can hold a different meaning when shared with a stranger.
Non-verbal signals are yet another factor that adds complexity to the interpretation of human interactions, as the same statements made in different tones of voice can land in radically different ways. Non-verbal cues are among the more complex components of human interaction because their interpretation is often subjective.
Creating connections between humans and machines
The rapid growth of generative AI introduced humans to the concept of natural language processing and the novel type of human/computer interaction it empowers. Generative AI allows users to ask a question with the same degree of familiarity they would when conversing with a friend and receive a conversational response. One of the great triumphs of conversational AI is that it engages in a way that does not seem artificial or unnatural.
As human users engaged with ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, the natural question to emerge was whether or not the platforms could truly understand the questions they were receiving and the responses they were providing. When you inform ChatGPT you are feeling down and ask it to cheer you up, it will provide you with a response that appears to be empathetic, though whether or not that type of response constitutes an emotional exchange is something that continues to be debated.
Embracing the potential of AI companions
While the debate over the emotional aptitude of AI continues, there are many who are not waiting for conclusive academic evidence. A growing number of people are seeking out interaction with AI companions in relationships with platforms that offer AI girlfriends and boyfriends, with a recent report showing a 2,400 percent increase in search interest for AI girlfriends on Google.
A growing number of platforms provide both AI girlfriends and boyfriends for those interested in exploring the type of interactions that can take place between humans and AI companions. These platforms allow humans to initiate emotional interactions because the AI companions
they provide are trained to interpret emotional cues and engage in exchanges that satisfy emotional needs.
The interest in AI companionship should not come as a surprise. Loneliness is on the rise around the world, but in the US specifically, it has been described as an epidemic. Just like the AI-driven chatbots that have become ubiquitous in the world of e-commerce, an AI-powered
companion provides an always-on solution to human loneliness.
The AI companions that are starting to emerge in our culture serve as confidants who are always available, intently interested, and quick to espouse a user’s values and encourage their dreams. It remains unclear whether their emotions are genuine. What does seem clear, however, is that the engagement they provide resonates with the emotional needs of a growing number of human users.
– Sanjana Bandara, CEO of Deeva, is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer goods and services industry. He is skilled in Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, Social Media Marketing, Seerch Engine Optimization (SEO), Sales, and E-commerce.
