Chatbots used to be nothing more than a novelty. In fact, they have been around for years, with the first chatbot to simulate human conversation created back in 1966 by Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT. Now, many organizations use AI chatbots to automate certain things and reach their clients better. Gartner predicts that a quarter of all organizations will use AI chatbots by 2027 as their primary customer service channel owing to lessening management costs. Beyond that though, people are seemingly using AI chatbots as companions or someone to talk to.
According to Gartner, a technology research firm, chatbots could become the primary channel for customer service in one-fourth of businesses by 2027. This prediction is supported by the recent surge in chatbot adoption, which has seen a 67% increase.#Techzniczone pic.twitter.com/9TMDbq4Bcl
— Techzniczone (@techzniczone) July 8, 2024
According to the latest reports from Andreessen Horowitz, two apps made the top 50 list. Currently, there are a total of 8, mobile and web-based, AI-companion companies that made the list, with Character.ai at the top of the list taking the 3rd and 16th on the web and mobile app rankings, respectively. It also draws an average of 298 sessions per month, per user.
Friend or foe?
The scope of AI chatbots spans much further than being merely an AI partner or being used for NSFW purposes. AI chatbots can adapt to several roles in our lives, be it providing education, entertainment, healthcare advice, or friendships. One study found that a chatbot trained to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy can potentially reduce symptoms of depression. While this does show positive overall results, the study is conducted within the US, so it might need more research across different countries.
The future is scary!
Check out the attached video. That's a personalized AI companion.
But this is not a chatbot. It's a 3D voice-based interactive experience for Windows and Mac. It's crazy realistic. It adapts to your personality and remembers every conversation you have with… pic.twitter.com/2YZrjNXKup
— Santiago (@svpino) February 27, 2024
Flipping the coin, it’s not all chocolate rivers and cotton candy clouds. Like everything else, there’s also a negative side to AI chatbots as conversational companions. The utilization, or at least excess amounts of it, leads to risks of privacy and the spread of misinformation. We may not be living in a reality where a movie like Her can be real yet, but there’s still a chance of AI chatbots negatively impacting a person’s ability to create meaningful human relationships.
A sense of paranoia dawns upon us in this age of AI as the fear of it filling in the role of a companion — be it as a romantic partner or platonically — is seemingly becoming a possibility. The studies are yet to provide a solid conclusion and the public opinion is mixed. However, with the lack of concrete answers, we’re left to wonder about the true impact of this technology on human lives. For now, we can only moderate how we interact with AI and remember to draw the line.
Photo credit: The feature image has been taken by Rendy Novantino.
Sources: Gartner / Andreessen Horowitz / Russel Fullmer, et al. (JMIR Publications) / The Guardian / Brenda K. Wiederhold (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers)
