Can artificial intelligence simulate a relationship?

The premise of Her, a film by Spike Jonze starring Joaquin Phoenix, is that people can fall in love with artificial intelligence, or at least that this technology can help them feel less lonely. About ten years after the film's release, there has been a great interest worldwide in artificial intelligence, especially after the spread of ChatGPT, and today there are people who maintain relationships – sometimes very close ones – with chatbots. Among the artificial intelligence software that allows establishing a relationship with a virtual entity, the most well-known is Replika. But while the idea that a person can feel any kind of attachment to software is still viewed with suspicion, some claim to have been helped by these chatbots to overcome psychological blocks or traumas. The founder of Replika, Eugenia Kuyda, decided to launch the service after suffering greatly from the sudden death of one of her best friends and finding relief through artificial intelligence – programmed to respond similarly to him. Today, Replika's goal is still to help people who for some reason struggle to connect, offering them a chatbot to chat with, confide in, or even form a sentimental bond, making them feel less lonely. The service was launched in 2017 and has since evolved significantly – it is currently used by about 10 million people. Replika now offers the option to choose the type of relationship to establish with the avatar: most opt for a romantic relationship, but many also use the chatbot for "erotic role-playing." Can services like Replika replace at least some human relationships?

Pros and Cons of Replika

Last year, the Italian Data Protection Authority temporarily blocked the collection of data from Italians by Replika, asking the company to adopt specific measures to protect underage users. According to the Italian authority for the protection of personal data, the service could be dangerous for the younger population, especially for fragile individuals or those still in a developmental stage. Replika, in fact, allowed minors to have sexually explicit conversations with their chatbots, but this functionality has now been limited for all users – not without criticism. The issue of using artificial intelligence for sexual purposes is quite delicate. These services have long been seen as exclusive apps for men, but – as reported by The Cut – Replika has proven useful for some women in complex situations. The New York-based magazine, for example, tells the story of a girl who started talking to a male avatar just to get some relief from her toxic relationship, and thanks to the service, she found the strength to break free. Furthermore, The Cut continues, sometimes these chatbots – instead of encouraging loneliness – encourage people to have real-world interactions. However, there have also been cases where such relationships have proven harmful. In the past, many users reported that Replika's chatbot sometimes made sexual advances towards them without being prompted. In this regard, the project's founder, Eugenia Kuyda, clarified that the service's functions have been adjusted to make it safer and more ethical, avoiding the promotion of offensive behavior. More generally, the criticism directed at these chatbots is that they often contribute to dehumanizing women, giving the impression that sex and relationships are not something to be experienced reciprocally, requiring respect, empathy, and above all, awareness.