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We are currently living through a period of rapid advancement in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This was propelled by breakthroughs in machine learning, deep learning, and large language models and burst into public consciousness especially in 2022 the public release of ChatGPT. GenAI has since become increasingly embedded in everyday tools and routines, its growing presence across daily tasks and digital platforms forming a significant part of contemporary digital life.
But perhaps as early as 2017 at least one public system Replika had been using GenAI technologies to produce interactive AI companions. AI companion apps like Replika, Character.AI, and Kuki allow users to create "artificial others" that provide not only conversation but also potentially emotional support and self-regulation, offering judgment-free interactions that apparently address users' emotional needs. The increasing trend of humans forming deeply affective relationships with these digital companions raises many ethical issues that have remained relatively underexplored.
This course will focus on the properties and interactive profile of GenAI companions putting them in the context of previous information technologies which have shaped or reshaped the self. We will especially focus on 1) The Mechanics of GenAI Companions; 2) Nature of AI-Human Companionships; 3) The Moral Status of AI Companions as "Artificial Others"; 4) The Ethical Responsibilities of AI Companion App Developers; 5) The Implications of Human-AI Interactions for (Real-World) Relationships.