Mary Martin

One might point out that movie characters or videogame NPCs give off a similarly deceiving impression of being conscious, and yet it would surely be extreme to condemn this. However, what makes the illusion particularly worrying in the case of AI companions is that it involves an interaction that is direct, mutual, and persistent: the feigned... See more

Friends without friction

Companion chatbots may weaken our ability to navigate conflict and difference—unless we make key design choices, says a new report

Because their thoughts, words and actions are infused with wisdom andcompassion, a person rooted in the present moment is like a brightly shining star that can be used to help navigate in thedark. They invigorate those around them and point out theway to individuals wanting to leave behind mindless livingand find their inner self. Their capacity to... See more

Their finding is part of wider realization in the neuroscience community, that our brain does not simply react to what comes in through our senses. Instead, we have a predictive brain, that permanently predicts what comes next. The expected sensory input is then suppressed. We see the world from the inside out, rather than from the outside in.

Of... See more

Despite formal recommendations (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022) and evidence supporting the effectiveness of organisational change and work redesign on improving worker well-being (Fox et al., 2022; Lovejoy et al., 2021), interventions that target the individual worker are most common.

In other words, rather than trying to please humans, Scientist AI could be designed to prioritize honesty.