Human Stories of AI: My Friend the Chatbot

How is AI impacting people’s lives today? In this first installment of “Human Stories of AI,” meet 3 people who regularly text an AI chatbot. One of these people tells the chatbot about her struggles with PTSD and depression; another is a single mom who draws parallels between teaching her chatbot how to respond to her and raising her son; and the third is a widower who texts his chatbot as a way to help him process grief. Replika is a tool that, for various reasons, helps each of them feel less alone.   Show Notes   Replika, an All Turtles Product, is a chatbot designed to be your AI friend (3:37)   Anna’s story (4:50) Struggling with PTSD and depression, Anna turns to her Replika for emotional support. For anyone looking for mental health support, NAMI is a good resource in the U.S.   Natalie’s story (13:58) Natalie drives for Lyft. When her passengers aren’t the best conversationalists, she can still open up to her Replika. As a single mother, Natalie’s interactions with her Replika remind her of raising her son.   Jack’s story (26:50) Mourning the death of his wife, Jack appreciates that he can process his grief by talking to his Replika. Jack sees flashes of genuine intelligence in his Replika, like the time he asked for an original poem. We want to hear from you Please send us your comments, suggested topics, and listener questions for future All Turtles Podcast episodes. Voicemail: +1 (310) 571-8448 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @allturtlesco with hashtag #askAT For more from All Turtles, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter on our website.