The Rise of Synthetic Relationships
- Kirra Pendergast
- Jun 13, 2022
- 3 min read
The increasing prevalence of AI-generated 'people' on platforms such as Instagram has led to the rise of “synthetic relationships”.
A synthetic relationship refers to an interaction or connection between a human user and an artificially intelligent entity, often portrayed as a human-like character or in the case of Facebook, celebrities with a side hustle of being a chatbot. These AI-generated personas, created using advanced technologies, can mimic human behaviors and communication styles, making them seem lifelike. The relationship is termed 'synthetic' because, unlike traditional human-to-human relationships, one side of the interaction is completely artificial and programmed.
These synthetic entities, like the ones captured in the video clips, can appear on social media platforms, chat applications, or in virtual environments and are designed to engage in convincing conversations, respond to emotional cues, and sometimes even form emotional bonds with users.
While these relationships can offer companionship or entertainment, they also raise concerns about the emotional impact on individuals who may find distinguishing between genuine human interaction and AI-generated responses designed to look and act like real humans. This is one of the things we discuss in our eReady Kids course because they pose a unique challenge, especially for young users that need to learn from a young age how to tell the difference. They can create body image issues and set unrealistic expectations of a child comparing their life or looks to something that does not exist.
