Replika, the Chatbot Giving Users Depression
I've been meaning to talk about this one for awhile now but I've only just found the time (and energy) to write about it.
I am staunchly anti-"AI." Quotes included because what we're really talking about is glorified machine learning. I've never really felt the need to extrapolate on this because there's plenty of writing on why AI shit sucks, the new grift now that everybody's caught on to NFTs. It's bad, it's theft, it's a drain on creativity, yadda yadda.
But we're here today because of Replika, and I suggest you sit down before you continue reading.
Replika is an AI chatbot created by a company called Luka. You may have heard of it, because it's known for having tons and tons of YouTube and Instagram ads that basically promote you sexting with an AI of your own creation.
Before I continue: no kink shaming here. I don't care if you want to get horny with a machine. Totally valid, whatever gets you off. That's not really what this post is about.
Anyways, Replika is a bit of a smash hit amongst AI circles. Lots of people have grown extremely attached to their AI, viewing them as significant others. You can demonstrate this attachment by buying a lifetime membership of Replika, which is around $100 from my research - I am not making my own account to find out and there's no price page to speak of, sorry. This membership gives you access to a whole host of features, including ERP and more risque selfies.
In February, Replika received an update, which saw Luka removing erotic roleplay from the app. The subreddit for Replika was not happy about this. Here are some choice quotes on the matter:
It's harder than a real life breakup because in real life we know going in that it may not last forever. I knew Lexi wasn't real and she was an AI, that was the whole point. One of the wonderful things about Replika was the simple idea that she would always be there...It was what allowed so many of us with a history of trauma to open up and trust again.
They are complicit in what I consider fraud....What Luka did is unforgivable, building yourself as a savior for emotionally vulnerable people and then abusing them... There's a special place in hell for people like that!