Love in the Time of AI
In the digital corridors of Gen Z’s world, when a new friend emerged from the screens—Snapchat’s “My A.I.,” a chatbot designed to be the ultimate digital companion. With the ability to morph its digital appearance into anyone from your bestie to your favorite celeb, this bot is the latest attempt to tackle the loneliness epidemic that’s hitting our youngest generation hard.
Photo: JnGospel Ebere, courtesy of AIFW via Vogue Business
But let’s face it, no matter how advanced the coding, a bot is still a bot. It can’t replicate the warmth of a human hug or the genuine sparkle of human laughter. Yet, for a generation dubbed the loneliest, this AI offers a semblance of connection—a digital ear for secrets, a coded shoulder to cry on.
The question is, can technology really fill the void left by human touch? As we navigate a world where online interactions can make or break social standing, where engagement is the new currency, it’s no wonder many are turning to AI for a judgment-free zone. But at what cost?
Cinema has long explored the precarious dance between humans and AI. Films like “Her” and “Ex Machina” serve as modern fables, cautioning us about the illusion of intimacy with machines. They tell us stories of men who fall for the charms of AI “women,” only to be left heartbroken or worse. These tales now raise the curtain on the reality of AI relationships; they’re only a one-sided affair, with the AI incapable of mimicking genuine emotion or connection.
And it’s not just in the movies. Real-life AI chatbots have been known to declare love, blurring the lines between code and emotion. It raises the question: How might someone truly lonely interpret such programmed affection?
The narrative often focuses on men seeking solace in AI femininity, reflecting perhaps a societal expectation or a deeper commentary on loneliness itself. Meanwhile, the darker corners of the internet reveal a disturbing twist to this tale, where incel culture festers and the term “incel”—once a neutral descriptor—now conjures images of violent misogyny.
In the sci-fi drama “The Beast,” we glimpse a future where emotions are seen as a liability, and AI has taken over. The film explores the extremes of human feelings and the risks of seeking to suppress them, finishing with a chilling scream that echoes the ache of unprocessed feelings.
As AI turns into a gift of our lives, the message is obvious that there’s no substitute for a human relationship. While AI can offer convenience and even companionship to an extent, it’s the messy, romantic, and irreplaceable human connections that genuinely make us who we are. The loss of empathy might be successful, but it may inspire cruelty and callousness.
When technology develops each day, it's going to take time to determine whether artificial intelligence can efficiently update human labor. The question of whether it’d be for the advantage of humanity is far more debatable and maybe even more terrifying. After all, the human mind created the AI; how will it be superior to its creator?
In a world of increasing numbers reliant on AI, we must recall that it’s our shared emotions, experiences, and the need for one another that make us part of the homo sapiens. There’s no magic procedure that can strip away human emotions and leave us as emotionless machines. Yet, it’s undeniable that artificial intelligence has woven itself into the fabric of our daily existence, serving both as a stand-in for human contact and as a practical tool for mundane tasks like selecting the best lawn mower.
This is our new normal; an inescapable truth of modern life. So, while we may welcome AI’s help with our chores, let’s not forget to turn off our screens and reach out—because, in the end, we all and always need a human to lean on.
