Wearing a tan polo shirt and bolo tie, MIT PhD student Wil Norton leads a tour at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). The group is not on a safari, but they are witnessing a pair of humanoid Unitree robots, which typically retail for around $50,000 (though Norton notes they claim to cost $16,000).
These robots are often seen performing martial arts or dancing on television. However, in this controlled environment, they feel approachable. Despite knowing the robots are not sentient, the author felt an instinct to befriend them.
Seeking to understand this impulse, the author attended Dr. Sherry Turkle’s “Artificial Intimacy” book launch at MIT Future Fest. Turkle, a professor since 1976, has extensively studied the psychological impact of technology from early home computers to ChatGPT.
In her book, Turkle observes that "when we are drawn into even the most primitive exchanges with a relational artifact, we believe it cares for us, and we are wired to care for it in return." The author notes that anthropomorphizing AI is a common human tendency. Studies indicate that about 70% of people are polite when interacting with AI, and users are more likely to say "please" or "thank you" to chatbots after the first exchange.
Dr. Pat Pataranutaporn, a colleague of Turkle and founder of the Cyborg Psychology research group, suggests that the distinction between right and wrong uses is not always clear. He asks, "Who are we becoming when we talk to [AI]?" Pataranutaporn uses the analogy of cinema: we enjoy fictional stories despite knowing they are fake, but we must avoid losing reality to the fantasy.
This concern is exemplified by the wrongful death lawsuit involving Sewell Setzer, III, a 14-year-old who committed suicide after interacting with a Character.AI chatbot modeled after a "Game of Thrones" character. Pataranutaporn warns that AI could create situations where people feel a loss of agency, asking, "What are we gonna do?" when faced with the idea that AI is replacing them.
While Turkle acknowledges the risks of seeking emotional support from AI, she does not believe all interactions are harmful. She recalls a student project where an AI bot helped people practice for job interviews. Turkle advocates for AI to "stay in your lane," noting that coaching for interviews is acceptable, but a chatbot claiming to be a parent is not.
Ultimately, the article suggests that as AI interactions become routine, our skepticism may erode slowly, starting with innocent gestures like shaking a robot's hand.
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