Creating Socially Effective Connections with AI Agents
The way humans interact with machines has become one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Humans are inherently social beings who form social networks integral to civilized society. When relationships are lacking, individuals experience loneliness, with negative impacts on mood, health, and longevity.
Societies today face a loneliness epidemic, with growing calls for urgent intervention. This epidemic coincides with the rapid development and use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). People are turning to AI not only for work-related tasks, but also for casual conversation, companionship, entertainment, and personal advice and support. While initial research has shown some benefits and harms of AI connections, further research is needed.
This fellowship aims to further develop a conceptual model of social connectedness with AI agents, and to design multidisciplinary research to test the model and publish the results. The work will generate novel insights contributing to ethical guidelines for the use of AI to improve health and well-being and to build healthier societies.