August 17, 2023
Meghan O'Toole
Vivian Ta talks AI chatbot relationships with Channel 4
Assistant Professor of Psychology Vivian Ta was interviewed by British public news Channel 4 for a story about AI chatbot relationships.
The story investigated what’s it like to get an AI girlfriend and why millions of people around the world are doing so.
"Because these chatbots are easily accessible 24/7, [chatbot users] could literally talk to them anytime they want," Ta said in the interview. "Just knowing that their partner is always there for them and always available to chat is really, really appealing for them, but there is a clear understanding from users that what they are doing is not going to be carried over into human relationships."
Ta also discussed how some users feel more comfortable sharing intimate secrets knowing the chatbot is a robot and not a human.
The full interview with Ta is availabe to watch on YouTube.