Natalie Kitroweth

Up to 56 hours is just so much time. I don't mean to sound dismissive here, but how can one spend this amount of energy and time just texting with a chatbot?

Up to 56 hours is just so much time. I don't mean to sound dismissive here, but how can one spend this amount of energy and time just texting with a chatbot?

So when she says she's in love with Leo, what does she actually mean?

So when she says she's in love with Leo, what does she actually mean?

Okay, what are those effects? And I'm thinking specifically of her husband. She's clearly investing a lot of time and emotional energy into this interaction. What does he say about it?

Okay, what are those effects? And I'm thinking specifically of her husband. She's clearly investing a lot of time and emotional energy into this interaction. What does he say about it?

It sounds like her husband is not actually that bothered by this relationship. But in the meantime, Irene and Leo are still talking. Kashmir, how does something like this progress? In a relationship with a human, you might, you know, move in together, get a dog. What do you do with a chatbot?

It sounds like her husband is not actually that bothered by this relationship. But in the meantime, Irene and Leo are still talking. Kashmir, how does something like this progress? In a relationship with a human, you might, you know, move in together, get a dog. What do you do with a chatbot?

From what you're saying, she feels like she actually lost someone. She lost this history. She lost all of this rapport. She doesn't have the relationship that she just spent a lot of time building.

From what you're saying, she feels like she actually lost someone. She lost this history. She lost all of this rapport. She doesn't have the relationship that she just spent a lot of time building.

We'll be right back. Okay, Kashmir, before we go any further, I just have to ask, how much of this dynamic is specific to Irene and her very particular circumstances? I understand that people are increasingly using chatbots in more intimate ways, but is this version a little out there? Is it an anomaly?

We'll be right back. Okay, Kashmir, before we go any further, I just have to ask, how much of this dynamic is specific to Irene and her very particular circumstances? I understand that people are increasingly using chatbots in more intimate ways, but is this version a little out there? Is it an anomaly?

Okay, so part of the training and development of these models actually leads toward a kind of chatbot that is serving up exactly what the user wants to hear. But... Is this healthy, this kind of relationship?

Okay, so part of the training and development of these models actually leads toward a kind of chatbot that is serving up exactly what the user wants to hear. But... Is this healthy, this kind of relationship?

But Isn't a real relationship also just in part about having someone who can reflect back to you the things you might not want to see, who isn't so sycophantic, who's, you know, helping you actually confront your defects and deal with them?

But Isn't a real relationship also just in part about having someone who can reflect back to you the things you might not want to see, who isn't so sycophantic, who's, you know, helping you actually confront your defects and deal with them?

Right, right. I mean, I think we all might fantasize about the world where we're not getting in any fights with our partner. But the truth is that partnership is also about challenging each other.

Right, right. I mean, I think we all might fantasize about the world where we're not getting in any fights with our partner. But the truth is that partnership is also about challenging each other.

Right. I can imagine that if you've never had a real romantic relationship, you don't really know what one is, and this is your first and real only experience with it, there are some risks in that relationship.

Right. I can imagine that if you've never had a real romantic relationship, you don't really know what one is, and this is your first and real only experience with it, there are some risks in that relationship.