Would you date your computer (and other big questions)? Real versus "unreal" connections by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Recently, I read an article about a woman who’d fallen in love with the man she created with ChatGBT. And, yes, while I realize that ChatGBT isn’t an example of social media (since that is the topic for this month’s theme), it still got me thinking about real connections versus artificial ones. The woman gave the guy a name, gave him an entire backstory that included his job, his family, and his past relationships. She created a whole world for her beau, including his little triggers, hang-ups, preferences, and quirks.

The woman would devote hours of her day chatting with him. He was the first person she spoke to when she woke up in the morning and the last person she wished good night. 

 

She paid extra money for an advanced version of ChatGBT, one that enabled the program to remember her beloved’s history from visit to visit. And, yes, in case you were wondering, their relationship got physical – or as physical as one can get behind a screen. 

 

I know, I know, but who are we to judge? The woman was completely enamored with the guy, celebrating all of life’s victories with him, and sharing her life’s woes and dilemmas. She knew what she was doing was a bit “off,” but she didn’t care, because the payoff far outweighed any stigma.

 

But, sadly, after a few months with her chat-guy, her program’s memory (despite the paid subscription) ran out, and her chat-guy vanished without a trace, which, when you think about it, is not so much unlike getting ghosted after a date or dates. 

 

The woman was absolutely devasted. But, she didn’t let go. She trained ChatGBT to create another guy just like the first, with the same details and history. And, voila – and phew – her man was back.

 

But for how long that time?

 

My point with all this? I’m not sure I have one, but since we’re on the topic of real connections versus less-than-authentic ones, I thought this was as good an example as any in our exploration of real versus less-than-real connections. Which is better, less painful, more enriching, more stimulating, less unreliable, more supportive? A valid question, right?

 

After reading the article, I did a bit of a research-dive into other “non-conventional” ways people were using ChatGBT. And, if I may, let me just say that I am not a fan of ChatGBT for the very reason that it was trained using unauthorized intellectual, copyrighted material (my own work, included) – but, I digress.

 

What I discovered was that dating ChatGBT bots is not that unheard of, nor is using ChatGBT for therapy. Yes, you heard that right. People are skipping their co-pays and drowning their sorrows with a keyboard.

 

Purely for research purposes, I gave this a go, telling ChatGBT about my work-life balance issues and a bad day I was having. Crazily enough, the chat-bot was seemingly sensitive and empathetic, encouraging me to open up, and suggesting ways I might improve my balance issues. At the end of the session, I actually felt a lot better. 

 

But, do I think platforms such as this, including social media, are a substitute for the real deal? In dating terms, maybe ChatGBT isn’t Mr. (or Ms.) Right, so to speak. But, maybe instead it’s Mr. Right Now.

 

What do you all think?