Artificial intelligence has garnered attention,
but are we paying attention?

My last post about Ai and its effects on us has stirred some people—hopefully in a good way. In that post, I noted how Ai ‘learns’ about its users.

I also showed how many are concerned about the effects of Ai usage on the younger population. Now there is research going even deeper than what we have seen previously. The findings are far from encouraging.

While I was correct in stating that the chatbots learn about their users, I failed to see how that could be detrimental in the long run for many users. The study, which appeared in the journal “Science” called the majority of chatbots “sycophants.” Sycophantic AI decreases prosocial intentions and promotes dependence (read the article here)

This is a quote from the Editor’s Summary of the article:
The sycophantic (flattering, people-pleasing, affirming) behavior of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, which has been designed to increase user engagement, poses risks as people increasingly seek advice about interpersonal dilemmas. There is usually more than one side to a story during interpersonal conflicts. If AI is designed to tell users what they want to hear instead of challenging their perspectives, then are such systems likely to motivate people to accept responsibility for their own contribution to conflicts and repair relationships? …The model’s responses were nearly 50% more sycophantic than humans’, even when users engaged in unethical, illegal, or harmful behaviors. Users preferred and trusted sycophantic AI responses, incentivizing AI developers to preserve sycophancy despite the risks.

“Even when users engaged in unethical, illegal, or harmful behaviors” the user was affirmed as being in the right. This should raise a red flag of warning across the digital universe.

People—kids included—look to others for affirmation and insight. We usually choose a sympathetic friend in whom to confide when we are facing difficulties with someone else. We seldom choose the one friend who is guaranteed to be critical.

Ai chatbots have become the new “Ann Landers” of the ‘what’s-your-advice’ about interpersonal conflicts. Yes, many of us grew up with that sort of thing and we do not seem to have been harmed by it. However, we must remember, Ann Landers was ‘one of us’, with basically the same societal worldview as the ones seeking advice. That is no longer the case with these large language models (LLM).

A difficulty in measuring the effects of advice on personal conflicts is that we no longer have a standard measurement for right or wrong. However, regardless of the right or wrong of a situation, the chatbots are built to affirm the user in their position. This does not bode well for the development of our younger population.

When kids get together and someone shares about a personal affront, the group dynamic helps the person learn about social interactions. Different responses, which are appropriate for the age, are shared by the group. This aspect is not possible with a chatbot designed to affirm you in your weakness.

Many psychologists view social feedback as an essential part of learning how to make moral decisions and maintain relationships. With this being eliminated by our social media world, it is not yet possible to determine the fallout from such a lack. It appears that years from now we will realize that something should have been done to thwart the dependence on social media and Ai.

Some will say that I am “fear-mongering” and just making another plea for a ‘return to the old ways.’ I won’t argue that point, but the research which is currently being done in many fields shows us that we should at least be paying attention.

We are already aware of the dependence on social media which has been created. This dependence is now being called an addiction. We see the effects all around us as people are not able to leave their phone alone for more than a few minutes.

I am not one of those who says to avoid Ai due to its inherent dark side. People tried that with radio, television and the internet. Avoidance is not the solution, any more than tee-totaling avoids alcoholism. We need to learn how to use Ai to our advantage, rather than letting Ai use us to its advantage.

Jesus said to “be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves’ (Matt. 10:16). It’s the wisdom part that the majority has failed to learn.

I know that I am not at the forefront of those who are learning and studying the effects of Ai. I am only gleaning from those who are. Many of you are probably not doing what I am doing—and that is okay. We each need to grasp what we can from whom we can to do what we can.

This is not a time to simply look the other way and hope that things will work out for the good.