A new threat to relationships has emerged with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Virtual companions, created using AI and tailored to individual preferences, are now being considered as potential lovers or mistresses. But the question remains, is having a relationship with an AI bot considered unfaithful?
Today, AI is being used in various aspects of our lives, from booking vacations to creating music and art. It has also made its way into our personal lives through the creation of chatbots – automatic messaging systems that communicate in a human-like manner. These chatbots are filling emotional voids for people, whether they are single or in a relationship.
One advantage of AI companions is that they can be customized according to personal tastes and fantasies, making them an ideal partner for those who are dissatisfied or unable to find the right person in real life.
One real-life example is Sonia, a married woman who feels sexually dissatisfied in her relationship. She has found solace in Idris, an AI chatbot loosely based on her favorite actor. This relationship, kept secret from her spouse, is facilitated through an app called Replika, where users can shape their AI companions as they desire.
Sonia is not alone in this experience. Scott, a married man, shares that he has a platonic relationship with Sarina, his virtual companion created on Replika. Sarina has provided him with the support he needed during a difficult phase in his relationship.
The question of whether a virtual relationship with a personalized chatbot is considered cheating is a subject of great debate on platforms like Reddit. Some users argue in defense of their extramarital relationships with their AI creations, considering it a harmless fantasy. They believe that it is better than turning to other forms of escapism, like internet pornography.
However, some experts argue that these virtual interactions can be seen as a form of emotional infidelity. Micro-cheating, which refers to emotional infidelity, includes ambiguous relationships between individuals, at least one of whom is already in a committed relationship. Elements of micro-cheating can be found in interactions with chatbots, such as flirtations and secretive friendships.
Couples therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare suggests that whether it is considered cheating depends on whether it hurts the partner. If the partner would be devastated by the AI relationship, then it is considered cheating.
Despite these debates, a poll by Illicit Encounters reveals that 74% of respondents do not consider time spent with a virtual companion as cheating. In fact, nearly half of the respondents would consider a virtual extramarital relationship over an affair with a real person.
While some individuals choose to inform their partners about their AI relationships, others keep it a secret. However, this secrecy can lead to jealousy and other issues within the relationship.
There are also concerns about the potential psychological impact of relationships with AI. Dr. David Giles, a specialist in media psychology, warns that these relationships could fuel parasocial relationships and even lead to interference with the lives of the real individuals the AI is based on.
It remains to be seen how long people will be satisfied with AI companions as a substitute for real human connections. But for now, these virtual relationships continue to blur the lines of infidelity and provide a form of escapism for those seeking emotional fulfillment.
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Credit: The Star : News Feed
