AI & Human Relationships

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“Perhaps we should all stop for a moment and focus not only on making our AI better and more successful but also on the benefit of humanity.”

Professor Stephen Hawking

19’s to

21’s

The development of AI started around the 1950s, but its progress has been slow. It started exploding as machines got more powerful especially around the 21st century.

From driving guides to voice recognition to autonomous driving

Self-driving is no longer a dream. From Waymo and Tesla in the west to China-based companies like Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto, who have already tested and released autonomous vehicles.

West to East

Uber Eats Japan launched this year in Tokyo, to counter its workforce shortage.

When Amazon first announced drone-delivery back in 2013, it was a game-changer and transformed delivery service completely. Fast forward to 2024, there is now a ubiquitous presence of AI-enabled delivery services.

Another common application of AI is in beauty & fashion, from augmented reality makeup application to AI fashion stylist.

You can find all sorts of AI solutions should you have any reasons not to make it to the physical stores to try the products out yourself or if you hold any doubts with your own choice.

AR MAKE-UP FILTER

Another common application of AI is in beauty & fashion, from augmented reality makeup application to AI fashion stylist.

You can find all sorts of AI solutions should you have any reasons not to make it to the physical stores to try the products out yourself or if you hold any doubts with your own choice.

AR MAKE-UP FILTER

There is no denial that it's been fun and mostly helpful to have AI assist us in life.

We are, however, more curious about... the impact of AI when it is interwoven with human relationships.

hearth strings

Tugging the heartstrings with AI

Views on the future

of human relationship

Views on the future

of human relationship

Views on the future

of human relationship

By Chin Chin Burkolter, Nathaniel Orlandy, Rayi Harjani Website Design by Gilang Nur A’idi, 2024

//All WRITTEN

content are written by humans, yes shocking, we know.

//Some images are

created by AI,

cos it make sense for certain parts.

//Some images are

created by AI,

cos it make sense for certain parts.

This is a collection of desk research, somewhat curious conversations, and at times, uncomfortable chats with eight of our personal friends of diverse industries, lifestyles and age group to get a sense of what they think about AI being interwoven into human relationships. In order to go broad and deep into the conversation, we used a combination of our research techniques and the iceberg framework to facilitate our inquiry.

Where’s the romance with AI?

SG, Parent, 49

Len

Where’s the romance with AI?

SG, Parent, 49

Len

No morality with AI.

ID, Attached, 30

Namira

No morality with AI.

ID, Attached, 30

Namira

AI is useful!

ID, Single, 39

Alysa

AI is useful!

ID, Single, 39

Alysa

Adam

AI art should be abolished!

ID, Single, 31

Adam

AI art should be abolished!

ID, Single, 31

It’s sad if my son pick AI over me.

ID, Single, 26

Dira

It’s sad if my son pick AI over me.

ID, Single, 26

Dira

AI relationship is against my religion.

ID, Single, 26

Fiona

AI relationship is against my religion.

ID, Single, 26

Fiona

AI push the death of the expertise

ID, Single, 26

Ina

AI push the death of the expertise

ID, Single, 26

Ina

How to educate my kids about AI?

SG, Parent, 49

Sue

How to educate my kids about AI?

SG, Parent, 49

Sue

AI to replace human relationships is currently not common in Asia, compared to the west.

If you do not have time for a longer read,this section is a good summary of our Investigation

AI to replace human relationships is currently not common in Asia, compared to the west.

Systems thinking

Using Systems Thinking

Framework

As we move beyond a single product of service, we found tools in Systemic Design particularly helpful for us to make sense of the qualitative data collected from our interviews. It gave us a systemic view of complex systems capturing the emerging behaviours, beliefs and opinions around the impact of AI on human relationships.

Causal Loop

Diagram

Causal Loop Diagram

What is pushing or balancing the behaviours?

Causal Loop Diagram of our exploration on the impact of AI on human relationships

It helps us make sense and understand the system by mapping not only the relationships, but also be able to analyse what is reinforcing any pervasive behaviours in the system or what is helping to balance of scams and abuse.

Leverage Points

Who and where holds the power?

Extracting and breaking down the loops to explore each one further

By extracting the loops, it helped the team to unpack each loop with all its leverage points easily. Just to list a few examples:

Most references drawn during the interviews are towards scams, frauds or online manipulation or change in value system as a result of using AI.
The current push for AI comes mainly from big companies with huge investments in AI development, thus, mostly reinforcing loops in the system that drive more usage and dependence.
The technology is moving so fast that other actors in the system have yet to counter the push, hence very few balancing loops.

3 bigger themes

Let’s dive deeper into these three bigger themes!

Feel free to click into any topic that calls out to you first,

No Need To Go In Any Order

Fake Realities

Real or fake?

Hmm... no clue.

Fake Realities

Real or fake?

Hmm... no clue.

Human-AI
Relationships

Your girlfriend is an AI?! Cool.

Human-AI
Relationships

Your girlfriend is an AI?! Cool.

Governance

Put that AI behind bars!

Governance

Put that AI behind bars!

We asked about views on AI; past, present and future.
These are the sentiments expressed by the interviewees.

PAST

Reliable,

Rigid,

Focused,

Romantic,

Explorer

PRESENT

Explorer

Dreamer

Unsure

Divided

Changing

FUTURE

Individualistic

Lost

Inhuman

Idealistic

Pessimistic

PAST

Reliable,

Rigid,

Focused,

Romantic,

Explorer

PRESENT

Explorer

Dreamer

Unsure

Divided

Changing

FUTURE

Individualistic

Lost

Inhuman

Idealistic

Pessimistic

PAST

Reliable,

Rigid,

Focused,

Romantic,

Explorer

PRESENT

Explorer

Dreamer

Unsure

Divided

Changing

FUTURE

Individualistic

Lost

Inhuman

Idealistic

Pessimistic

What do you think of the future of human relationships with interventions from AI?

Negative Vision

Positive Vision

What are the possible pathways?

Is there a way to stop this monstrosity?

Will it come to this ?

Could this be the future we desire with AI?

The following frameworks and models were used in our design process to help us listen to the system, to understand it and finally to envision desired possible future scenarios with AI in our relationships.

System

Map

System

Map

This gives us an overview of what the system looks like

Causal

Loops

Causal

Loops

Extracting causal loops helped us to map leverage points

Value

Proposition

Value

Proposition

Mapping the system-level value based on individual, organization/ecosystem and societal level

Intervention Strategy

Brainstorm ideas from different levels and spaces

Outcome

Map

Outcome

Map

Define the sustaining purposed and the strategic outcome

strengthen the value of human connection?

How

Might

Provocation

strengthen the value of human connection?

How Might We

Provocation

work-focused

Mostly work-focused, for the moment

A research on the internet yielded very little results on policies on AI intervention in human relationships. However, there are alliances and task force set up by different countries on the use of AI in the professional context, due to the unintended consequences of AI, for e.g. many felt their jobs are threatened by AI, lack of transparency on the use of AI that takes a human work and replicates it in different ways.

Also, an alarmingly increasing number of scams and frauds, social media platforms like Meta has started added in ‘Made with AI’ labels. Coincidentally, Somia created an Instagram post with graphics, made by humans, but Instagram automatically labelled our post as ‘AI Info’.

Source: @somiacx IG

Current AI policies examples

A summary agreement released in 2023 to protect the acting industry against generative AI and Digital Cloning

Meta’s approach to counter content manipulated media.

Source: @theaipage IG

Meta’s approach to counter content manipulated media. Source: @theaipage IG

The most comprehensive AI policy released Jan 2024: EU AI Act

Image Source: thinkers360

The most comprehensive AI policy released Jan 2024: EU AI Act

Image Source: thinkers360

Most policies or framework revolves heavily around industries like healthcare, education, government or businesses. And if there are sections on social impact, they are typically on inclusion, diversity and gender. We have seen policies around transparency and data protection but have yet to see any policies that includes morality or ethical practices.

Suggestions & Provocations

We took some time to brainstorm around the leverage points that were identified during our process. Here are some suggestions to consider. This is just a start and we invite you to get in touch if you have more ideas to share!

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Behavioural Economics principles

Rules

1h ago

You have reached your advertising limit

You have hit the allowed amount of advertising to target users for AI usage this week, you may try again next week.

Impost a limit on budget or amount to advertise on AI companions. Alternatively, limit the age group or profiles.

Users will not be CONSTANTLY pushed AI advertising content which is purely to entice them to subscribe.

😴

Zzz...Zzz...

Now

Your AI Companion

Erik is currently resting, he will respond in 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, wanna try your BFF?

Incentivise companies to limit the availability of AI companions, also gentle reminders to connect with friends.

Users do not get access to AI companions 24/7 but knowing that there may be delays or limits in responses.

TIME

1h ago

Weekly AI Report

Your AI time was up 55% last week, for an average of 5 hours, 43 minutes a day. Try connecting to a human! They can be fun too.

Ensuring service providers remind users about the amount of time spent on conversing with AI from a social angle.

Using Behavioural Economics principles to help users monitor and gain awareness of the amount of time spent.

Rules

1h ago

You have reached your advertising limit

You have hit the allowed amount of advertising to target users for AI usage this week, you may try again next week.

Impost a limit on budget or amount to advertise on AI companions. Alternatively, limit the age group or profiles.

Users will not be CONSTANTLY pushed AI advertising content which is purely to entice them to subscribe.

😴

Zzz...Zzz...

Now

Your AI Companion

Erik is currently resting, he will respond in 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, wanna try your BFF?

Incentivise companies to limit the availability of AI companions, also gentle reminders to connect with friends.

Users do not get access to AI companions 24/7 but knowing that there may be delays or limits in responses.

TIME

1h ago

Weekly AI Report

Your AI time was up 55% last week, for an average of 5 hours, 43 minutes a day. Try connecting to a human! They can be fun too.

Ensuring service providers remind users about the amount of time spent on conversing with AI from a social angle.

Using Behavioural Economics principles to help users monitor and gain awareness of the amount of time spent.

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Critical Delays in the system

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Balancing loop: Advertising guidelines

Rules

1h ago

You have hit the allowed amount of advertising to target users for AI usage this week, you may try again next week.

You have reached your advertising limit

Impost a limit on budget or amount to advertise on AI companions. Alternatively, limit the age group or profiles.

Users will not be CONSTANTLY pushed AI advertising content which is purely to entice them to subscribe.

😴

Zzz...Zzz...

Now

Your AI Companion

Erik is currently resting, he will respond in 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, wanna try your BFF?

Incentivise companies to limit the availability of AI companions, also gentle reminders to connect with friends.

Users do not get access to AI companions 24/7 but knowing that there may be delays or limits in responses.

TIME

1h ago

Weekly AI Report

Your AI time was up 55% last week, for an average of 5 hours, 43 minutes a day. Try connecting to a human! They can be fun too.

Ensuring service providers remind users about the amount of time spent on conversing with AI from a social angle.

Using Behavioural Economics principles to help users monitor and gain awareness of the amount of time spent.

9:41

This is the end of your notification list, don’t forget to smell a flower or have a convo with other humans.

Rules

1h ago

You have hit the allowed amount of advertising to target users for AI usage this week, you may try again next week.

You have reached your advertising limit

Impost a limit on budget or amount to advertise on AI companions. Alternatively, limit the age group or profiles.

Users will not be CONSTANTLY pushed AI advertising content which is purely to entice them to subscribe.

😴

Zzz...Zzz...

Now

Your AI Companion

Erik is currently resting, he will respond in 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, wanna try your BFF?

Incentivise companies to limit the availability of AI companions, also gentle reminders to connect with friends.

Users do not get access to AI companions 24/7 but knowing that there may be delays or limits in responses.

TIME

1h ago

Weekly AI Report

Your AI time was up 55% last week, for an average of 5 hours, 43 minutes a day. Try connecting to a human! They can be fun too.

Ensuring service providers remind users about the amount of time spent on conversing with AI from a social angle.

Using Behavioural Economics principles to help users monitor and gain awareness of the amount of time spent.

9:41

This is the end of your notification list, don’t forget to smell a flower or have a convo with other humans.

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Improve Structures: Community guidelines

Guidelines on the amount and type of AI usage within a community.
Assign community advocates to educate and to raise awareness.
Create accountability with one another on AI dependence.

Guidelines on the amount and type of AI usage within a community.
Assign community advocates to educate and to raise awareness.
Create accountability with one another on AI dependence.

Mandatory programs to raise awareness of AI usage
Testimonies or case studies to share on any good or bad cases of AI usage
Parent education and awareness
Parent-child conversations to allow for questions and clarifications

Mandatory programs to raise awareness of AI usage
Testimonies or case studies to share on any good or bad cases of AI usage
Parent education and awareness
Parent-child conversations to allow for questions and clarifications

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Educating the young at school & at home

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Improve Structures: Community guidelines

GoodHood Singapore aims to connect communities from ground up

Human connections as part of 'profit' or Key performance index instead of only more AI usage and financial numbers.

AI initiates and encourages small, informal gatherings, food sharing, book reading, based on interests in the community.

As our interactions and creations involve more and more AI interventions, we could run campaigns to remind and celebrate humanity, respect social issues and value genuine human relationships.

Preventative:

Responsible AI

Educating the young at school & at home

Measures to put in place

However, we already are seeing abuse happening. What are some measures that can be put in place?

Corrective:

Sustainable AI

AI Scams/Frauds Helpline & Support

Train and equip helpline supporters with specific skills and empathy to deal with AI scams
Enable advocacy and support systems for the victim
Safe space for people to speak up against AI (Hotline for help, AA groups, etc)

Train and equip helpline supporters with specific skills and empathy to deal with AI scams
Enable advocacy and support systems for the victim
Safe space for people to speak up against AI (Hotline for help, AA groups, etc)

The misuse of AI technology has posed serious risks to fraud victims.

There is certainly an urgent need for the Government to put up harsher criminal sanctions on perpetrators committing AI crimes, which also means prosecutors and actors within the law system needing to understand AI technology.

The misuse of AI technology has posed serious risks to fraud victims.

Corrective:

Sustainable AI

Punish the perpetrators

As with the symbolism of the circle of life: birth, survival and death, with new technology and inventions, they seek to improve, to enhance, and sometimes, as unintended consequences, also to destruct.

But with all our wisdom and talents, humanity prevails to hold the power to discern and decide what could serve us best.

We hope this investigative research piece triggered some thoughts, or stir some emotions in you. When you next encounter AI or are working with it or incorporating it in your design solutions, your reaction may not have to be of resistance or acceptance, but to observe and decide what is best for you, your loved ones and the humankind.

But with all our wisdom and talents, humanity prevails to hold the power to discern and decide what could serve us best.

Elton John

“It's the circle of life, and it moves us all, through despair and hope, through faith and love, 'till we find our place, on the path unwinding.”

Elton John

We hope you enjoy this read. Do share with your friends if you know they will enjoy it too. If you would like to discuss more on this topic, do drop us a note at info@somiacx.com. We’d love to hear from you!