Near the 50% of young adults believe romantic relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) will improve human happiness over the next decade, according to the results of a large international survey shared exclusively on Monday, June 1, with AFP.
The percentage progressively decreases in older age groups until it stands at just a quarter of people aged 55 or older, according to the study.
Advances in the development of AI have led people to turn to chatbots as confidants and romantic partners, while advances in robotics are contributing to the manufacture of increasingly sophisticated sex dolls, raising questions about the impact on human relationships.
The survey, conducted with almost 10,000 people in the United StatesJapan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Hong Kong, offers a snapshot of this “rapidly evolving ethical landscape,” according to the polling company YouGov.
It also shows “a deep ideological divide between Western and Asian markets,” with the latter apparently more receptive to technology-enabled sex and romance.
Regarding emotional support, Forty eight percent of all respondents aged 18 to 24 and 47 percent of those aged 25 to 34 stated that they believed that “intimate companions AI” -a category that covers from chatbots to sex dolls – would improve human happiness in the next decade.
When the same question was asked focusing on deeper connection and sexual well-being, the numbers stood at 32% and 38%, respectively. In both aspects, older people were less optimistic.
He psychological impact of chatbots on vulnerable people has been closely monitored in recent times, after some families linked the deaths of several American teenagers to the use of AI.
In September, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) required seven companies, including tech giants Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI and Snap, to provide it with information on how they monitor and address the negative impacts of chatbots designed to simulate human relationships.
Geographic division
YouGov and the media company that commissioned the study, Tokyo-based Fundamental Individual X Gen, told AFP they had been surprised by the regional disparity.
In Indonesia, the 50% of people – of all ages – said they believed AI companionship would improve sexual connection and well-being.
The percentage was 34% in Hong Kong and 24% in Japan, falling to 20% in the United States, 15% in Germany and just 9% in the United Kingdom.
“While Western audiences largely view synthetic intimacy as a threat to authentic human closeness.“The Asian public seems increasingly willing to integrate AI into their deepest and physical lives,” said Philippe Chan of YouGov.
Although the use of chatbots for romance and sex is becoming widespread, their materialization in robots or dolls is in a more incipient phase. Of the 9,912 respondents, only 17% said they would consider using an “AI intimate doll,” compared to 59% who said they would not.
In general, Younger adults were more likely than older adults to consider using a dolland in Japan and Germany, the number of young people who would consider trying a doll was almost double the national average.
“While the global population remains wary, the next generation is actively redefining the boundaries of love life,” the report states.
In Japan, more than a third of young adults said they believed AI dolls could provide a feeling of love, outnumbering those who disagreed.
ee (afp, YouGov)
