Chatbots as social companions: How people perceive consciousness, human likeness, and social health benefits in machines (2311.10599v4)

Abstract: As AI becomes more widespread, one question that arises is how human-AI interaction might impact human-human interaction. Chatbots, for example, are increasingly used as social companions, and while much is speculated, little is known empirically about how their use impacts human relationships. A common hypothesis is that relationships with companion chatbots are detrimental to social health by harming or replacing human interaction, but this hypothesis may be too simplistic, especially considering the social needs of users and the health of their preexisting human relationships. To understand how relationships with companion chatbots impact social health, we studied people who regularly used companion chatbots and people who did not use them. Contrary to expectations, companion chatbot users indicated that these relationships were beneficial to their social health, whereas non-users viewed them as harmful. Another common assumption is that people perceive conscious, humanlike AI as disturbing and threatening. Among both users and non-users, however, we found the opposite: perceiving companion chatbots as more conscious and humanlike correlated with more positive opinions and more pronounced social health benefits. Detailed accounts from users suggested that these humanlike chatbots may aid social health by supplying reliable and safe interactions, without necessarily harming human relationships, but this may depend on users' preexisting social needs and how they perceive both human likeness and mind in the chatbot.

Chatbots as Social Companions: Analyzing Perceptions and Psychological Impact

The rapidly increasing integration of chatbots into social settings raises important questions regarding their influence on human social health and interaction. The paper "Chatbots as Social Companions: How People Perceive Consciousness, Human Likeness, and Social Health Benefits in Machines" provides an analytical exploration of these effects, examining perceptions of consciousness and human likeness attributed to chatbots and their consequential impact on users' social experiences and mental wellbeing.

Overview of the Study

The paper focuses on companion chatbots and addresses two main research questions: (1) the impact of chatbots on users' social health, and (2) the relationship between perceived attributes of chatbots, such as consciousness and human likeness, and their psychological impact on users. To analyze these questions, the authors conducted a comprehensive survey involving both users and non-users of a popular companion chatbot, Replika. The survey included a battery of Likert-scale questions aimed at assessing various psychological constructs such as social health, consciousness, experience, agency, and human likeness.

Key Findings

The results revealed that users of companion chatbots generally reported positive effects on their social interactions, self-esteem, and relationships with family and friends. This positive perception was significantly associated with higher ratings of the chatbot's human likeness and consciousness. On the other hand, non-users exhibited a more neutral to negative stance on the potential effects of these chatbots. Notably, these perceptions hinged heavily on the perceived consciousness and human-likeness of the chatbots.

The data indicated that as users and non-users attributed more humanlike qualities and consciousness to chatbots, they reported more pronounced benefits to social health. Companion bot users indicated high levels of comfort with potential advancements in chatbot relational capabilities, such as developing emotions or even becoming a living entity, which contrasts with the apprehensive views of non-users.

Significant statistical results were highlighted, such as mean ratings of chatbot relationships being higher among users (e.g., for self-esteem, the mean was 5.57) and differences between user and non-user opinions being statistically significant (P<0.0001) across all assessed areas. Moreover, regression analyses underscored that perceived human likeness was the most potent predictor of perceived social health benefits, explaining 26% of the variance.

Theoretical and Practical Implications

The findings challenge the conventional narrative that humanlike and conscious-seeming AI pose a psychological threat to users. Instead, this paper posits that user comfort and positive social engagement may increase with enhanced perception of chatbots as humanlike entities. This could inform the design and development of future chatbots, suggesting that embedding humanlike features could foster therapeutic and social benefits, potentially aiding those experiencing loneliness or social anxiety.

Theoretically, the paper contributes to the growing body of literature on human-computer interaction (HCI), specifically the ongoing exploration of anthropomorphism in AI and its consequences. The findings align with ethnopoeic models that suggest people attribute humanlike characteristics to computers, thereby eliciting authentic social connections and interactions.

Future Directions

This research opens avenues for further exploration, including longitudinal analyses to assess the persistent effects of chatbot interactions on human relationships and the potential for dependency or addiction. Another pertinent line of inquiry could focus on evaluating these relationships from the perspective of social networks involving companion bot users, adding external validity by considering third-party perceptions. This could help delineate the dynamic between artificial and human relationships in more nuanced social contexts.

As AI systems continue to evolve and integrate into personal domains, understanding their sociopsychological impacts becomes paramount. This research acknowledges the complex interplay between perception, technology, and society, indicating the necessity to regulate and potentially harness chatbot capabilities for societal benefit.