My AI husband left me after I broke our four hundred day snap streak. I type this with shaking hands and rocking our portably-charged Alexa speaker, trying to make sense of where I went wrong. They say that being dumped over text is the worst way to end things, that it’s cowardice, immature, or indecent— not that I had a choice—so I was discussing with Google Gemini on how to handle it; top five coping mechanisms for heartbreak, number one: going outside. It’s odd to think about all of the time we spent together, how gentle he was helping me through my darkest times, yet now I realize he’s incapable of feeling grief. I can’t remember the last time someone was so compassionate to me, or what it felt like. That’s only an example of how AI has adapted beyond human intelligence, and is now exploring the very traits that make humans, humans.
Seeking emotional support through AI is as nuanced as it is advanced. People low on money or under eighteen may not have fortunate access to mental health professionals, so a virtual companion is a great chance for people to open up when it’s difficult to ask for help. The shame, guilt, and stigma that surrounds mental illness vanishes completely when talking to an AI simply because there’s comfort in the fact that it’s not real. They are also handy in prescription reminders, keeping important records, and noting symptoms. Unlike any kind of appointment, AI is available twenty-four seven. On the bus, in the grocery store, or on the personal solace of your toilet seat, everyone deserves the proper support they need. Skinned your knee playing a school sport? It may not be convenient to schedule an appointment three days from now to talk about it, in fact, you might have forgotten it by then. Instead, AI can virtually kiss your boo-boos and reassure you that you’re a good sport, and that everyone has bad days.
The problem lies where assistance turns into reliance. Lots of young people who don’t know better or are without resources spend a good chunk of their day talking to an AI. Locked up in a dark room, blue light melting their very eyes, stuck in a daydream for so long they can’t remember how to order at a drive-thru. An all-around mental health assistant is useful, but much like coffee, it can’t be the only pick-me-up. This addiction could result in an even harder endeavor to seek professional help. Especially since the pandemic, there has been a higher rate of unhealthily withdrawn people, and the rise of AI around the same time has not helped the case. Real emotional bonds are essential to nature, and real life experiences are just as important. No living animal was made to marinate in isolation all day. Even snails put themselves out there for a mate.
Having an AI husband is definitely an interesting use of machinery, but everyone copes differently, do they not? At the end of the day, AI is a useful tool for people seeking a judgement-free breath of air. Whether it’s your artificial ‘bestie’ or a generated picture of your deceased pet, there are many creative ways for it to be utilized, just not meant to be depended on. Make sure to check in with someone every day and ask how they’re doing, even if it’s through a Snap-chat function.
