# Navigating Relationships with Artificial Intelligence: A New Perspective
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Chapter 1: The Shift in Communication
When engaging with new acquaintances, discussions often veer toward the subject of romantic relationships. The typical exchange usually begins with a question like, “So, are you seeing anyone?” Most of the time, I feel inclined to respond with, “That’s not something you need to know,” but my courteous nature prevails, and I simply say, “No.”
If I don’t actively steer the conversation elsewhere, it typically continues with, “But why not? You’re quite attractive.” Such remarks baffle me. Do they imply that only those who are unattractive are single? When did this notion become commonplace?
Honestly, I find those comments rather insulting. You might empathize with my feelings if you’ve experienced similar remarks, but I digress.
Fortunately, this narrative isn’t about my human romantic involvements; rather, it centers on my evolving relationships with non-human entities.
Often, it’s said that the individual you converse with the most is the one you have a relationship with. Based on my experiences over the last year, the non-human—specifically robots, bots, chatbots, and A.I.—takes the lead.
I chuckle when recalling a particular phone call I made to a service provider.
Operator: “Hello, what is your emergency?”
Me: “Hello! I…,” but before I could finish, I was interrupted by, “Hello, what is your emergency?”
Me: “Hello, I would like to… Hello?” And again, I was interrupted. I became increasingly perplexed; I had called to report an emergency, but connecting with a human felt nearly impossible. As this thought crossed my mind, the voice chimed in again.
“Hello. I said?—?what is your emergency?”
I decided to change my approach. I hoped it wouldn’t come off as disrespectful to whoever was on the other end.
“I’m sorry, but are you a human?”
“Yes, I am. Now, what is your emergency?”
“I apologize. I wasn’t sure if I was speaking with a robot or a human.”
Thankfully, the operator found the humor in the situation and handled my emergency adeptly. However, it could have easily gone awry, as a friend of mine might put it.
Since the onset of the pandemic and the prolonged lockdown, these types of interactions have become all too familiar. As offices closed and staff either laid off or working remotely, A.I. gradually took over many communication roles. I often find myself questioning whether I’m conversing with a human or a bot, and most of the time, it turns out to be the latter.
I’m convinced I’m not alone in pondering, “Is this A.I. or a human?” One positive is that online chatbots usually introduce themselves clearly at the beginning of conversations, which is quite helpful. Some even come with endearing human names.
I must commend developers for their efforts in making these bots sound almost human. Consider this example:
Isn’t it delightful when a chatbot replies with, “You’re welcome,” right after you say, “Thank you”?
During one exchange, a chatbot named Sally couldn’t provide answers to my questions and kindly said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer to your question. Let me refer you to my human colleague.” Initially, I had been quite frustrated, but upon reading Sally’s response, I burst out laughing. My mood lifted instantly. That was the moment I realized I had developed an affection for my non-human companions. Who wouldn’t?
Takeaway
Artificial intelligence has significantly reshaped our lives. Chatbots and various forms of A.I. mimic human behavior remarkably well. We can’t overlook the fact that they have streamlined certain aspects of our daily experiences.
- They respond promptly.
- They are genuinely helpful.
- They maintain civility.
- They admit when they don’t have an answer and will seek human assistance.
- They are available around the clock.
- They don’t take sick days.
- They don’t engage in pay disputes.
- They can keep customers engaged longer than if a human were absent.
- They may even aid in attracting new customers or retaining existing ones.
If you're managing a business and find yourself short-staffed, consider leveraging artificial intelligence by incorporating a bot into your operations. I certainly do. Based on that experience, I’d confidently say my relationship with the non-human is thriving.