Alexander Laffer, a lecturer in media and communications at the University of Winchester, said there needs to be responsible development of AI as systems have been created to respond to the capacity of humans for empathy. He warned that chatbots should be designed to “augment” social interactions but not replace them following cases where people have become too “fond or reliant” on their AI companions, leaving them open to manipulation. He explained that chatbots have been designed to encourage connections and respond to the moods of users. “Children, people with mental health conditions and even someone whose just had a bad day are vulnerable. Mr Laffer, working with Project AEGIS (Automating Empathy–Globalising International Standards), has also produced a new video to highlight the issue and the group’s work with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to draft a set of global ethical standards for AI.
