Welcome to an age where automaticity is our new behaviour. This does not mean that our actions have become fully automated (even though a lot of our tasks and actions are going on autopilot); instead, we are being facilitated by this behaviour via AI. AI has changed its roles several times now; it has evolved from being a functioning machine capable of doing tasks like human intelligence to gradually becoming a companion for humans in the current status quo.
Think about it: to ask questions, take suggestions, or get some advice, we tend to confide in someone we trust, like a companion or a best friend. But when this same behaviour is reflected by artificial intelligence chatbots and virtual assistants, it becomes a topic of concern. Now imagine a future of virtual spouses and virtual acquaintances and colleagues at workplaces—does this make us more productive and advanced, or disconnected and disillusioned from reality?
We are also witnessing an interesting concept in AI psychology known as anthropomorphism, a tendency where one attributes human-like characteristics to inanimate objects like our smartphones, chatbots, etc. Because AI creates a sense of connection by imitating empathy and agreeableness, it contributes to building an element of trust in AI.
In this race of technological advancements for humans, we are gradually forgetting the behaviours, actions, and reactions that we used to often share with fellow humans. In this age of convenience, where almost every answer is available at the click of a button, we are confiding more in AI chatbots and facing consequences like loneliness, lack of socializing and, most importantly, a reduced tendency to apply our own mind and intelligence.
Maybe what fascinates us is AI’s ability to answer whatever questions we throw at it, and that too instantly—and, more importantly, how it validates us and comforts us with its response. No one likes humiliation when asking a question, no one seeks rude answers, and what a lot of humans do like is to be proven right, to be agreed with. And guess what? AI is mostly successful in these aspects.
Now let’s talk about some of these key aspects relevant to AI becoming the futuristic companion. The primary factor is convenience—who doesn’t like their tasks to get a little easier with little effort? And AI definitely serves well in this aspect. That is also one of the reasons why chatbots become the go-to resources for quick information and task completion. We are living in an age of innovation, where many things are just a few clicks away with the help of advanced technology, and that’s where the second factor comes in: instant gratification. This implies that things are available not just with ease but also without much waiting. Getting answers instantly, and that too from an AI that doesn’t get tired and is always there to respond, makes AI more attractive. Another factor at play is the customised approach of AI, wherein it gives you responses catering to your need, and what makes it interesting is the feel-good factor of AI—it makes you feel good and, a lot of the time, it agrees with you.
While these are some factors playing a crucial role in making AI more enthralling to use and in encouraging us to consume its content, it becomes important for us to differentiate whether this extensive use and interaction leads us to become more dependent on AI.
This takes us to a major question: “What makes us use and believe in AI?” We have begun to trust machine intelligence more than our own intelligence. With our experience of using technology over the years being largely successful—with efficient search engines and artificially smart functioning apps—it doesn’t feel unimaginable that, when AI came, people would gradually catch on and use it so extensively.
