AI machines could listen to gripes instead of partners. Human behaviour expert Dr James Muldoon predicted we will turn to artificial intelligence to ‘vent about annoying colleagues’ rather than chewing the ear off a spouse.
Household bots could save marriages because they will soak up moaning and nagging instead of spouses, boffins say.
Whining about a long day at work to a partner may become a thing of the past when AI can listen instead – and dish out words of comfort.
Human behaviour expert Dr James Muldoon predicted mankind will turn to artificial intelligence to ‘vent about annoying colleagues’ rather than chewing the ear off a spouse.
The sociologist said AI could be useful because it will save husbands and wives the anguish of having to absorb long rants.
Dr Muldoon, from Essex Business School, said folk could end up venting to a bot several times a week.
He told the Instant Genius podcast listening to gripes could be a ‘positive side’ of AI.
“Maybe we use AI to vent about our annoying colleagues at work, right?,” he said.
“Maybe your husband or wife is sick of you talking about all your terrible colleagues and you just want to spend 20 minutes of your day venting about them and just telling someone how terrible they are.
“AI might be good for that.
“Maybe it’s literally just 20 minutes of your life a few days a week and it feels like a supplement rather than a replacement of human beings.”
According to The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development website People Management folk are already turning to AI for help with raising formal work grievances.
They are using tools such as ChatGPT to prepare employment tribunal claims.
But Ailie Murray, of commercial law firm Travers Smith, warned relying on what can be inaccurate advice from bots could be ‘problematic’ and may do ‘little to help resolve’ issues.
Lee H Baucom, of online marriage guidance website The Connection Compass, warned turning to AI could make someone’s plight worse.
It was not a ‘therapist, a mediator or a wise friend’ but a ‘sophisticated mirror that reflects back what you bring to it often in an amplified form’.
“What AI does is validate your narrative,” he said. ” When you’re hurting that validation feels like relief. But it’s not healing. It’s actually reinforcement.
“When conversations with AI feel better than conversations with your spouse something dangerous happens.
“Your marriage isn’t being compared to healthy marriages, or therapy, or reconciliation. It’s being compared to an interaction that requires nothing of you.
“AI intimacy is fake intimacy. It asks nothing. It risks nothing. It costs nothing emotionally.
“Real intimacy with your spouse requires vulnerability, the possibility of rejection, the work of understanding, and the pain of being truly known, flaws and all.
“When you have an easier option that feels like connection but isn’t you stop doing the harder work your marriage actually needs.
“People report feeling more ‘connected’ in their AI conversations than with their spouse.
“But that’s not connection at all. It’s the emotional equivalent of junk food. It satisfies the immediate craving while leaving you malnourished.
“Marriage isn’t a debate to win. It’s a relationship to nurture.
“Every emotional release you get from venting to AI is energy you’re not bringing to the actual relationship.
“AI keeps you analyzing, processing, strategizing and seeking understanding all in isolation from your spouse.
“It can make you feel productive while you’re actually avoiding the very thing that needs to happen – engaging directly with your partner.”