There must be some figures somewhere for the signing up for having an AI Friend.
Without the figures I’m going to propose that the likelihood is that the percentage of requests for AI girlfriends far outnumbers that of AI boyfriends.
Here’s the rub, (and there will be a lot of rubs). AI generated “relationships” are for the emotionally immature.It’s a substitute for the real thing.All be it an amazingly realistic and interactive one.
Sounds like mana or womanana from heaven for the person who doesn’t want real life to interrupt their daily activities and who can switch off their chosen partner at any point they choose.
Sounds like a perfect partner for a Serial murderer or perhaps AI partners can solve domestic violence by supplying a non-contact outlet for whatever expression of human aggression or misunderstanding is manifested.
AI could educate the steps to take to make progress or otherwise in a relationship or it could be used malevolently to represent barbarity and degradation of a kind only a human being could imagine.
I began this piece because I saw an advertisement on Tumblr for an AI girlfriend. I’m sure it will take off. What direction is unpredictable.Will it be like Aldous Huxley’s soma?
thenotsomightyom 
Let’s not forget that there are a lot of lonely people out there. So maybe the idea of an AI boy- or girlfriend is not as bad as one might think. I’ll be the last person to judge people who would use these AI services.
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Yes,that struck me when I was writing it,but are men lonelier than women and why?And where do you draw the line between bad unregulated AI which may exacerbate a psychological problem rather than just allowing a vent for it. Would it be appropriate to let a convicted paedophile on a long sentence to access AI virtual reality as part of their treatment,rehabilitation?
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Right, men are certainly not lonelier than women. You raise valid points. Like I said in another post, AI needs a better regulation. So many ethical questions must also be addressed.
One thing’s for sure, you can’t put the genie (AI) back into the bottle.
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Funny I think women are more resourceful dealing with loneliness. So I think there are more lonely males seeking what they think will resolve that loneliness ache when in fact that”s not the difficulty at all ,it’s an ego problem,top dog and all that Whereas if they saw the World on a more level playing field they might not worry so much about achievements.AI could help with that
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Excellent reflection on male pattern behaviour. Sound arguments. Yes, maybe AI can resolve even anger issues. So there wouldn’t be riots in the streets.
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