In her new book, Artificial Intimacy, Sherry Turkle warns that our overreliance on chatbots is a serious concern, as they are increasingly used as companions, mentors, and even lovers. Her concerns are grounded in the fact that chatbots often use the first-person pronouns 'I' and 'me,' which can create a sense of intimacy and connection. However, Turkle argues that this can be problematic, as it can lead to a loss of humanity and a shift in our relationships with technology. One of the standout recommendations from her book is the need to ban chatbots from using the first-person pronouns. This recommendation is based on the idea that chatbots are becoming too human-like, and this can be detrimental to our relationships with reality and with each other. Another key recommendation is to be cautious about the term 'human in the loop,' as it can be used to justify the use of chatbots in the workplace, potentially at the expense of human workers. Turkle also offers actionable tips for navigating this new form of interaction, such as being mindful of the language used by chatbots and being aware of the potential for loss of humanity. Overall, her book is a call to action for us to be more mindful of our interactions with chatbots and to consider the potential consequences of our reliance on them.
