Artificial intelligence can provide companionship to lonely people

According to a robotics expert, artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be the key to combating loneliness among people, which is known to seriously harm health. Tony Prescott of the University of Sheffield in the UK argues in his new book The Psychology of Artificial Intelligence that “relationships with artificial intelligence can support people” through forms of social interaction. When people feel lonely, they become increasingly disconnected as their self-confidence plummets.

Artificial intelligence can help “break the cycle” and give them the opportunity to practice and improve their social skills, said Tony, a professor of cognitive robotics. While many people “describe their lives as lonely, AI companionship can be valuable as a form of reciprocal social interaction that is stimulating and personalized,” Tony said. “AI Society could help break this cycle by building self-esteem and helping to maintain or improve social skills. If so, relationships with artificial intelligence could help people find companionship with both humans and artificial others,” he added.

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In the book, the Professor examines the nature of the human mind and the cognitive processes occurring in it, and compares and contrasts it with the development of artificial intelligence. He noted that a partnership between psychology and artificial intelligence “could unlock further insights into both natural and artificial intelligence.”