AI Chatbots May Reduce Human Empathy, According to MIT Professor Sherry Turkle

Professor Turkle's New Work on AI

Professor Sherry Turkle, founding director of MIT's Initiative on Technology and Self, is releasing a new book titled "Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines" on September 29. This book builds on her decades of research into human interaction with technology, shifting focus to modern AI chatbots.

The Shift from Early Digital Interactions

Turkle's earlier works, such as "The Second Self" (1984) and "Life on the Screen" (1995), explored how computers and digital spaces allowed individuals to explore identity and find connection. These environments often provided support and freedom not found in the physical world, revealing fundamental human needs for connection and vulnerability.

AI Chatbots and Diminished Self

In her latest book, Turkle posits that the dynamic has changed significantly with AI chatbots. She states, "In 1984, I called the computer a second self. With the digital twin, the metaphor is turned on its head. It’s the agent who is in charge and imagines a version of you. Now you’re the second self." This shift suggests that AI agents diminish the user's sense of self, potentially leading to a reduction in human empathy.

Implications for Human Connection

The core argument is that while previous digital interactions facilitated self-discovery and connection, current AI technology may be leading to a "deskilling" of human empathy. By having AI imagine a version of the user, the technology could be reducing the depth and authenticity of human interaction and self-perception.