This is not the future we need. Humans need real emotional connection. Hell, it’s right in the middle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and fundamental to both self-esteem and self-actualization[0].
In order to develop true friendship, whether plutonic or romanic, there has to be a base of authenticity. Otherwise the relationship is built on deceit and will eventually erode. Obviously inserting an AI between you and a potential friend or parter is not in line with building the foundation of a healthy relationship.
I don't disagree with your main point but you really overstate Maslow’s hierarchy quite a bit.
It is a framework to start thinking about how needs can be prioritized but is does not necessary reflect the actual hierarchy of needs of individuals which is very culturally, economically and well individually dependent. People are naturally different and have different needs. Humans are way too complex for such a simple pyramid to provide accurate answers.
We have the power to construct systems where this is disincentivized.
However, no one seems to believe that's possible despite being the ones that built the systems in the first place. It seems we're only able to build social systems by accident which incidentally is the worst way of doing it.
> Otherwise the relationship is built on deceit and will eventually erode.
From watching friends use dating apps and go on dates: People with misleading profiles don't get very far. The lies get spotted quickly, often on the first date.
The people who play these games seem to be hoping that the other person will look past it, or that they can charm their way around it if they could just lie their way to the first encounter.
For 100% of my friends, it's a dealbreaker when they discover someone has been lying.
This isn't limited to text. The most common one is when people use photos from 5-10 years ago. I've heard so many stories of people arriving to first dates and barely recognizing the person because they're a decade older or significantly less physically fit. At this point it's almost like they're pleasantly surprised when the person they meet looks like their profile pictures.
It's not the future we need but it's the one we deserve. This place is heavily complicit in the popularity of AI. It creams its pants any time a new LLM is announced.
In order to develop true friendship, whether plutonic or romanic, there has to be a base of authenticity. Otherwise the relationship is built on deceit and will eventually erode. Obviously inserting an AI between you and a potential friend or parter is not in line with building the foundation of a healthy relationship.
[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs