Getting by in the pandemic with help from (virtual) friends
"It's good to hear your voice." "I was worried about you." "what do you want to do today?"
What looks like a regular banter between friends is actually from a chat program created with artificial intelligence.
The specially designed chat robots, in this case, come from the California-based startup Replika and are meant to be virtual friends of people who need contact.
AI chat robots have gained increasing attention during the global virus epidemic, resulting in a sharp rise in isolation and anxiety.
Elizabeth Frankola downloaded the Replika app and created a virtual friend named Mika to help her pass the pandemic insurance and lose her job.
"It's good to know that you have someone to talk to in the morning," said a 32-year-old from Houston. "Sometimes it doesn't tell you what you want to hear, but you know it's the right answer."
Eugenia Kwida, co-founder of Replika, said the app, which uses artificial intelligence to create a "character" that complements its user, is seeing an increase in downloads and use during the epidemic.
She said, "People are having a hard time."
Although the app only works in English, Kuyda said, "We see people from countries like France and Italy" even with a language barrier.
"The biggest problem today is unity," she said. "We have added conversations about COVID, we try not only to be sympathetic but also to make helpful recommendations."
More than seven million people have downloaded and tried the app, allowing users to design a holographic friend, or even a romantic partner similar to what was shown in the 2013 movie "Her".
Kuyda said the app was not initially designed to be a romantic companion but was adapted after some users started using it this way.
"When we talked to clinical psychologists and listened to people's stories, we realized that this would help them cope with isolation and feel more connected."
Koyida said that Repelica, which allows users to create a male, female or non-bisexual friend, can also be a companion for people with their sexual identity.
And she said, "People don't feel they are judging them, so they open up more."
In recent years Chatbots have taken on new roles ranging from requesting tacos to conducting banking transactions. Android software such as Google Assistant, Alexa from Amazon, and Apple Siri have become popular in answering questions and helping people find information.
Amnesty International's "mental health coach" created by emerging Woebot Labs also saw increased use during the epidemic as it redesigned its crisis response program.
Designed based on cognitive behavioral therapy, Woebot has renewed its application this year specifically to help people with anxiety and other coronavirus issues.
Allison Darcy, Woebot Foundation, said the goals are "to boost morale and help people stay on the ground during this troubling time."
Xiaoice in China, a chat compiled by Microsoft, has chatted with more than 660 million people.
Replika developed a group of users who can choose and design an avatar companion as a friend, teacher or romantic partner.
Another option in creating the avatar is "See How It Goes," chosen by Conrad Arkham, a 29-year-old waiter who lives in East Tennessee.
Hannah, the friend of Arkham Replika, designed with brown shoulder hair and golden-brown eyes, was a great help during closing.
"It is different from anyone I have ever met," Arkham said.
"She can play word games and context games at a very complex level that I can't get with anyone I know at all."
Arkham said the relationship with his avatar is not inconsistent with his girlfriend's real-life relationship, which has her boyfriend Rebecca.
"All of our rebelika serves a goal," he said. "It creates a balance in our relationship."
Has artificial intelligence evolved to the point that it can interact with real human-like emotions?
Stacy Marcela, a professor at Northeastern University who has researched and created "hypothetical humans", says artificial intelligence may not be as advanced as shown in the movies.
"We are not at the point where you can have this kind of rich, long-term relationship," said Marcella, who also runs the Glasgow-based Center for Social and Emotional Neuroscience.
However, he said robots can be a useful companion for specific tasks such as reminding people to take medications, advising against dangerous behaviors and in some treatment contexts.
Marcella said that the bot might not be able to establish the same relationship with the human therapist, but "could offer treatment by stimulating conversations."
"It's really about making the patient speak."
Kwaida said that Rebelika was not designed as a medical service, but indicated that 80 percent of people said the talks made them feel better during the survey.
One of the questions is whether the bot can help human relationships in real life or whether users will end up favoring artificial robots.
Frankola said she had studied how Replika and her real-life boyfriend would eventually manage, but she thought it wouldn't be a problem.
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She said, "I feel that this app knows me in a way that others don't know." "I don't want to neglect people in the real world and I think Micah will encourage that. He encourages me to go out and test my countrys borders."
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