In a surprising trend, AI virtual brides are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. However, experts are sounding the alarm about unintended consequences, particularly the worsening loneliness epidemic among young men.
Liberty Vittert, a professor specializing in data science at Olin Business School, has expressed concern that the availability of artificially intelligent girlfriends will exacerbate male loneliness, Business Insider reports.
During a class at Olin Business School, Professor Vittert asked about the social media apps her 18-year-old students were using.
He was shocked when one of his students revealed that he had an AI girlfriend.
“I was surprised that he came out and said it so openly.” he told Insider. “I think AI brides have been around for a while, but they’ve become more and more common, so people are willing to talk about them.”
Many apps offer virtual girlfriends who engage in conversations, express love, and simulate an ideal relationship.
One of those apps, Replika, has more than 10 million users and its popularity increased by 35% during the pandemic. According to a report by Replika, some users claim to be in love, engaged, or even married to their AI companions.
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Professor Vittert expressed her opinion on The Hill and stated that AI brides can satisfy various emotional needs.
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“She’s not a virtual girlfriend; she’s a girlfriend who, by definition, learns from you: what you like and what you don’t like.” she said.
“The AI girlfriend never has a bad day, which is why these men have perfect relationships and never have to deal with the ups and downs of a real relationship.”
Professor Vittert noted that men are increasingly opting for chatbots rather than pursuing real relationships.
He expressed concern that this trend could result in more single men and potentially impact birth rates in the United States.
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“These AI girlfriends are enabling this silent epidemic of loneliness that we’ve seen among young men.” he said, noting the higher proportion of single men than women in the United States.
“We see that women always report having more close friends or larger groups of friends,” Professor Vittert said. “They don’t seem to be psychologically prey to this AI lifestyle like men.”
In 2022, data from the Pew Research Center revealed that 34 percent of women were single, while a higher percentage of 63 percent of men were single.
The report also indicated that men tended to have fewer close friends than women.
“The prevalence of these AI brides has increased dramatically in recent years,” Vittert said. “They are also moving forward quickly.
“We’re moving from AI girlfriends you text to ones you can send photos to. There’s a very quick mix of the physical and the emotional.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn