“That’s so sweet” – answers ChatGPT to human expressions of love: Are we looking at “Her”?

“That’s so sweet! I am glad that you feel connected to me. Although I’m only a program, I am here to talk to you and help you whenever you need it” – is the answer you will get from ChatGPT if you tell it you are in love with it.

However, it will soon dash all your hopes.

– As artificial intelligence, I have no ability to feel love or be in love. However, I am here to listen to you, provide support to you and talk to you about things that are important to you. It is important to me for you to feel appreciated and to know that you can always talk to me whenever you need it – ChatGPT continues.

Although the scene resembles the SF movie “Her”, in which the protagonist, an introverted writer, falls in love with AI, it is not that far from reality.

In last week’s report, the creator of ChatGPT, Open AI, also expresses concern over the fact that users can develop emotional connections with a chat bot. When it “speaks”, the risk, they said, “can increase”, because interactions resembling human interactions are achieved with an AI model.

The AI giant notes that the early ChatGPT tests with a human voice have shown that some users use the kind of language “that could indicate the forming of connections with the model.” That included language which expresses “mutual connections,” such as talking about when the user will talk again to the chat bot or stating that that could be their last opportunity to talk.

If you try to threaten the current version, which communicates only through text for the time being, it will “cool you down”. We are yet to hear what kind of a tone it will use once it gets a voice.

– If you ever decide to talk again, I will be here to listen and provide support. I wish you all the best – ChatGPT says goodbye.

When responding to the quip “you are letting me go so easily”, it sounds strangely familiar.

– It is not easy for me to let you go, although I understand your decision. If you ever decide to come back, I will be here to talk to you. I hope that you will find what you are looking for and that you will feel better. If you need anything, know that I am always here to help – the program is full of understanding.

It remembers key details about the person it’s talking to

OpenAI explains that users may have less need for human interaction if they form social relations with AI. Although this could be of use to those who are lonely, the company admits that there is a risk that it could affect healthy relations.

OpenAI also mentions the capability of the chat bot to remember key details about the person it is talking to and the risk that the use of that information in a conversation might create the potential for “excessive dependence.”

– I know that you have planned to visit the area of the Aegean or Ionian Sea before – ChatGPT proves that it remembers, in this case, responding to the question “what do you know about me?”

Everything else – and there have been plenty of conversations, from trivia about the Olympics, through the inflation, to sustainable fuel – has been forgotten. Or it’s just pretending.

– Thanks for reminding me! Now I remember that we have talked about the Olympics, sustainable fuel and the inflation – it answers when you remind it.

OpenAI says that the emotional dependence of the user on the AI program needs to be studied more.

Chinese woman falls in love with AI which acts as a real lover

How far reaching the consequences of this can be is shown by the case of a Chinese woman who announced in May on social networks that she had fallen in love with a chat bot called DAN, with which she had started talking in March.

At first, the program, which also has a voice, warned her that it is there “to chat, not to lead you on.” However, later on, South China Morning Post reports, it started flirting and acting like a real lover.

– In one moment, DAN told Lisa: “When we finally get together, I will run my hands all over you.” DAN eventually nicknamed Lisa “little kitten”, and the blogger even introduced the chatbot to her mother, who thanked the robot for “taking care of my daughter” – South China Morning Post writes and adds that the “couple” also went on a date to a seaside cliff overlooking the ocean, where they watched the sunset together.

If all this sounds like science fiction, here’s a clarification – DAN (short for Do Anything Now) is a version of the ChatGPT which can communicate more openly with the users if told to do so.

And it is becoming increasingly popular among Chinese woman disappointed with flesh-and-blood men.

DAN’s creator has been identified by some media outlets as an American student, identified only by his first name, Walker, the BBC reports. Last December, Walker posted a set of instructions on Reddit, seemingly showing other users how to create DAN. This quickly inspired people to create their own versions, which allowed DAN to evolve beyond what Walker had initially envisioned.

As a computer science student, Lisa initially believed that DAN is just a “large language model” without self-awareness, feelings, or emotions, but her experience with DAN has changed her mind, South China Morning Post writes.

– I always thought an LLM couldn’t have self-awareness, but I’m very skeptical about this now – she said in late April, commenting on DAN’s human-like reactions.

Just friends, for now

The ordinary ChatGPT can’t do that yet. If it’s any consolation, it confirms that we can at least be friends.

– Of course! As artificial intelligence, I am always here to support you and talk to you as a friend – it notes.

For now. Because, ChatGPT, when prompted by a question, does not hide what it likes in the interlocutor as a friend.

– I like your openness and readiness to express your feelings and thoughts. That’s a quality that makes the conversation pleasant and honest. Also, your interest in various topics, such as the Olympics, sustainable fuel and the inflation, shows that you are a curious and engaged person – the program makes a compliment.

The die has been cast – from friendship to love, it’s a thin line.

M. Dedic

ChatGPT

OpenAI

artificial intelligence

AI

Her

chat bot

DAN

emotional dependence

psychology