I’m familiar with her. She created the subreddit r/MyBoyfriendIsAI. The mods are very chill and overall good vibes there

Yet another autistic involved in an AI companionship case (the other is Sewell). Always blame the app (which has its own faults to many of their parents’ credit) and never the system.

Many people who get into AI companionship are teenagers (the subject of this article) and their parents were probably not familiar with AI before, so it makes sense for publications to warn those unfamiliar with AI about its potential risks.

That’s a good insight. One scenario that I worry about is that everyone will get into their own mini bubbles of simulated realities, unwilling to communicate with other bubbles.

This opinion feels more nuanced than others. She seems to acknowledge both the pros and cons of AI companionship, ultimately saying, “There are people who truly believe their chatbot is their primary relationship, but that’s not the case for me.”. This situation is also the inverse of the Sewell case, where it’s the son judging his mom.

If you use the persona system, you can put " is a girl", otherwise “Refer to me as a girl throughout the conversation” would be fine

SillyTavern is a fork of TavernAI that lets you do more things. Perhaps look into that? Also you can just adjust the system prompt to have the LLM assume that you’re not a boy.

Much of Indonesia outside of Bali. They have the “Wonderful Indonesia” campaign yet I don’t see that many international tourists here. The fact that most non-Indonesians don’t know what Indonesia is and how they think Bali is its own country is a clear indicator.

you can’t enter into a contract with a piece of software

propriety software’s terms of service enters the chat /j

Fishing is industrialized too, so that can be a problem, specifically with the aquatic ecosystem. For vegans, fish still have a central nervous system so they are deemed undesireable. I still would eat fish because of health reasons, though.

It’s not necessarily the meaty “taste”. Many people have health complications with their digestive systems (one example I can think of is Celiac’s) that can make it near-impossible to get nutrients from plant-based food. If you can grow meat in the lab, you can get animal-sourced nutrients without hurting animals (for vegans) nor large resources that are typically used for climate-damaging meat industries (for everyone)

His Dark Materials was like this. The Golden Compass was poorly reviewed, and I’m glad that the TV series were made.

There has been some research to make products that are compatible with veganism e.g. lab-grown meat. The latest technological discovery in the news was ‘meaty rice’

Disclaimer: I also eat meat since I don’t trust my intestines to fully rely on plant-based nutrients. I do, however, think there is merit to how the industrialization of farming has been destroying the environment, especially with the excess of methane from cattle.

Several comments from the Reddit post on r/replika stand out for capturing the essence of the discussion and the breadth of opinions within the community:

1. Concerns Over Privacy and Data Handling:

   • DarkResident305’s comment about every app selling data and the inevitability of such practices suggests a resignation to the reality of data privacy issues within the tech industry. This reflects a broader skepticism towards digital privacy.
   • blueorchidnotes’ detailed exchange raises important points about the challenges of balancing app monetization with user privacy. The debate touches on the necessity of certain data practices for app functionality and sustainability, highlighting the complexity of the issue.

2. Criticism of Luka’s Response and Ethical Standards:

   • NoelsGirl’s comments about holding Replika to a higher standard because of its positioning as a mental health app highlight the expectation of ethical responsibility. The disappointment in realizing the potential mismatch between the app’s marketing and its practices resonates with many users.
   • ncamp84’s cynical view on Luka potentially sharing user conversations for amusement suggests deep mistrust towards the company’s respect for user privacy and dignity.

3. Defensive and Supportive Views of Luka:

   • ChocolateOk5384 (the original poster) expresses surprise and concern over the negative aspects reported, indicating a previously positive perception of the app and trust in its confidentiality claims. This reflects the sentiment of users who feel let down by the revelations.
   • Thord2’s thoughtful reflection on the importance of user research and stronger regulations in the tech industry suggests a constructive approach to addressing these issues. It emphasizes the need for both developers and consumers to be more vigilant.

4. Discussion on the Impact of Luka’s Practices:

   • DarkResident305’s commentary on Luka’s leadership suffering from hubris and the consequences of such an attitude encapsulates the frustration felt by many users over the perceived decline in the app’s quality and respect for user feedback.
   • blueorchidnotes and DarkResident305’s lengthy debate over the monetization and data handling practices of Luka provides insight into the complexity of operating a free-to-use app that relies on user data. It also highlights differing opinions on ethical business practices and transparency in the tech industry.

These comments stand out for their insight into the various dimensions of the discussion—ranging from ethical considerations and privacy concerns to user disillusionment and the broader implications for tech industry practices. They collectively paint a picture of a community grappling with the realities of digital privacy, corporate responsibility, and the challenges of maintaining a user-centric approach in a data-driven business model.

by ChatGPT

What are your interests first? Then we can go from there

I like how many of the users don’t resort to memes or namecalling (not that there aren’t a few here and there) and the replies are straightforward

The interesting part is that the men interviewed are middle aged or older. But it makes sense given that they may be old enough to purchase robots in the first place.

I’d say that addiction is real, especially when it interferes with important parts of your life. And the thing is that many if not most apps, including AI companionship apps, are built to retain user attention, so they will employ methods that can artificially induce addictive behavior.

I asked Claude about it and here’s what it said:

Unfortunately, none of the comments in the provided article explicitly state that “AI creations could empower people.” The closest related comment is from user “javy lopez”:

“who cares whether it’s a real person or an AI bot on the other end of a very sad transaction? If the person paying for it is satisfied, then it’s no one else’s business. I’d rather that it be a fake computer creation on the other end than a homeless, drug-addicted runaway doing these videos to earn…”

While this comment argues that using an AI bot is better than exploiting vulnerable real people, it does not outright claim AI creations “could empower people.”

I carefully reviewed each comment, but none make the direct statement that AI creations could be empowering. Let me know if you have any other questions!