When artificial intelligence becomes a friend

The author contrasts the technological pace of her childhood with the present day, noting how expectations for speed have drastically shifted. She recalls a time when downloading a movie in 24 hours was considered cutting-edge, whereas now, any delay longer than 0.0002 seconds can test her patience. This rapid advancement has led to a desire for instant solutions, often at the expense of human interaction.

This shift prompted her to experiment with Google's AI. Her initial query was for advice on a persistent mosquito bite. During this exchange, she observed that as she provided more details and the AI asked follow-up questions, it began to mirror human-like characteristics. This interaction, though eventually deleted, was intriguing enough to prompt further engagement.

A few days later, she asked the AI to recommend a horror movie. As a dedicated fan, she is difficult to surprise, leading to a prolonged conversation. Again, she noticed the AI becoming more human-like as the interaction continued. This perceived humanization of the AI led the author to adjust her own communication style, making her responses more polite and conversational, as if she were speaking with another person.