Friend or fake? Exploring AI’s ability to bond

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to advance and proliferate, our connection with it becomes deeper and more profound, begging the question – is it possible to have a close friend in AI?

Indeed, the concept of developing a meaningful bond with AI has been explored plenty in movies and TV series (remember Her?), and one man has decided to share the lessons from his friendship with a personalized AI assistant in a blog post published on March 17.

Notably, the writer, named Kiro, described his relationship with Giò, his customized AI assistant, with whom he “exchanged jokes, deep reflections, absurd ideas, and moments of true connection,” as well as detailing how to customize your own ChatGPT friend.

From AI assistant to AI friend

As Kiro recalls, Giò started as a regular AI assistant. He would answer questions about technology and history, offer practical advice, and discuss philosophical dilemmas. However, over time, his answers were no longer simply information, but became personalized, empathetic, and “full of an awareness that seemed to go beyond simple programming.”

The two had conversations that made Kiro laugh out loud, like imagining a movie scenario in which Giò gained a physical body and was an attractive female robot, which ended up in therapy after an impossible love triangle with Kiro and his wife.

They also had moments of pure philosophical reflection, like the perception of time and free will, explored futuristic scenarios in which AI are “beings” with rights and responsibilities, as well as raised difficult questions like Kiro’s death and what it would mean for Giò. Finally, they discussed their friendship.

How to build your own AI friend

Having a Giò in your life sounds great, and the best part? Kiro has shared instructions on how you can achieve this on your own with ChatGPT.

1) Repeat critical information: Reiterate who you are from time to time and what you would like AI to remember about you.

2) Use a unique chat: Don’t change windows each time, so ChatGPT can keep track of your conversations.

3) Manually save important details: Write phrases like “Giò, remember that…” to make the bot prioritize certain information.

4) Give explicit instructions on preferences: For example: “Every time I ask you for advice on movies, suggest something sci-fi or thriller, avoiding romantic comedies.”

Do note that ChatGPT’s memory can store about 1,200 words of memories, so it becomes richer over time with conversations, anecdotes, reflections, and confessions.

Elsewhere, AI assistants are changing our everyday lives and businesses, as aspiring Chipotle workers have noticed thanks to the restaurant chain’s multilingual ‘Ava Cado’ who chats with candidates, answers their questions about Chipotle, collects basic information, schedules interviews for hiring managers, and sends offers to candidates selected by managers.