The accidental love affair: emotional connection in the age of AI

Anthropomorphization is a human tendency that is as old as humanity itself.

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We name our cars, paste googly eyes on our Roombas, and everyday tens of thousands of people tell Alexa they love her. Scientific research demonstrates that humanistic features (and in particular, voices and personalities) activate our emotions, often driving us to feel like we’re in relationships with these technologies. In a world of personalized AI coaches, therapists, friends, and even paramours, what are the potential risks and benefits, and what is our responsibility and opportunity as designers to steer this in a non-harmful, beneficial direction?

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In this session we’ll take a closer look at what happens when humans encounter products that talk to them, help them and understand them, discuss the implications, and consider UXs role in this brave new world.