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> There is no other possible audience for a product like this. I think you greatly underestimate how widespread and serious loneliness has become, if you think

by squigz 2y ago

> There is no other possible audience for a product like this. I think you greatly underestimate how widespread and serious loneliness has become, if you think that "sad teenage boy who can't get girlfriend" is the only audience for this. I know many people of various ages who have expressed interest in this, and none of them are what anyone would call "incels" Friendship and community is not as common as it should be for a huge amount of people, and AI companions will appeal to anyone who feels lonely enough.

alganet 2y ago
"expressed interest" is a funny market research term. As I mentioned, my assessment is that "expressed interest" might not be what it really seems to be. Of course other groups have "interest", but the real market are incels, isn't it? The other demographics are that expressive of a target? We'll see. I can't change how things go, and companies are stubborn and will develop it anyway in some form or another.
- squigz 2y ago
  > "expressed interest" is a funny market research term. I don't even know what you're trying to say here. > As I mentioned, my assessment is that "expressed interest" might not be what it really seems to be. Yes well I'm not sure how it really seems to be to you. You say these groups aren't lonely, but what they really need are friends...?
  - alganet 2y ago
    Yes. Friends in the sense I explained before. Someone who understands, is real, and do not want to use them for profit or disputes. It's not hard to grasp. An AI bot is not a friend, it is insulting. If I'm right it will be rejected or misused.
    - squigz 2y ago
      You are right, in that people need real friends. You are wrong, in that people will turn to these products. I am telling you this after discussing such things at lengths with people, including the pros and cons of it, and why such things appeal to them. My conclusion is certainly not that they feel insulted by it. Feel free to dismiss that anecdote as, I don't know, 'market research' or something.
      - alganet 2y ago
        It is already an insult. The online social thing is related to the causes of this "loneliness" (it's more like forced isolation). Just because they are constrained from expressing it, it doesn't mean they do not feel insulted. Inability to represent a feeling is not the same as acceptance. A common mistake. The "market research" I am referring to is the use of statistics and social profiling, not this conversation or any anecdote. I think those methods are broken.
        squigz 2y ago
        It's rather convenient that anyone that doesn't agree with your personal view is just... wrong, and they really do feel this way, they just can't talk about it.
        alganet 2y ago
        It's a conditional. I am predicting something based on observation. The unfolding of those things (AI companions, incels, use of those things for manipulation) will tell if I am wrong or not. I think it's cute that you are slowly trying to steer the conversation towards this "feeling of loneliness" by selecting what parts of my answers you decide to quote and address. However, the parts you chose _not_ to address tell more about who's trying to create a convenient narrative than the comments themselves. As I said, the process of creating kind human beings that are not fools is what I aim for. Definitely not winning some vain debate.
        squigz 2y ago

by squigz 2y ago

alganet 2y ago

"expressed interest" is a funny market research term. As I mentioned, my assessment is that "expressed interest" might not be what it really seems to be. Of course other groups have "interest", but the real market are incels, isn't it? The other demographics are that expressive of a target? We'll see. I can't change how things go, and companies are stubborn and will develop it anyway in some form or another.

squigz 2y ago
> "expressed interest" is a funny market research term. I don't even know what you're trying to say here. > As I mentioned, my assessment is that "expressed interest" might not be what it really seems to be. Yes well I'm not sure how it really seems to be to you. You say these groups aren't lonely, but what they really need are friends...?
- alganet 2y ago
  Yes. Friends in the sense I explained before. Someone who understands, is real, and do not want to use them for profit or disputes. It's not hard to grasp. An AI bot is not a friend, it is insulting. If I'm right it will be rejected or misused.
  - squigz 2y ago
    You are right, in that people need real friends. You are wrong, in that people will turn to these products. I am telling you this after discussing such things at lengths with people, including the pros and cons of it, and why such things appeal to them. My conclusion is certainly not that they feel insulted by it. Feel free to dismiss that anecdote as, I don't know, 'market research' or something.
    - alganet 2y ago
      It is already an insult. The online social thing is related to the causes of this "loneliness" (it's more like forced isolation). Just because they are constrained from expressing it, it doesn't mean they do not feel insulted. Inability to represent a feeling is not the same as acceptance. A common mistake. The "market research" I am referring to is the use of statistics and social profiling, not this conversation or any anecdote. I think those methods are broken.
      - squigz 2y ago
        It's rather convenient that anyone that doesn't agree with your personal view is just... wrong, and they really do feel this way, they just can't talk about it.
        alganet 2y ago
        It's a conditional. I am predicting something based on observation. The unfolding of those things (AI companions, incels, use of those things for manipulation) will tell if I am wrong or not. I think it's cute that you are slowly trying to steer the conversation towards this "feeling of loneliness" by selecting what parts of my answers you decide to quote and address. However, the parts you chose _not_ to address tell more about who's trying to create a convenient narrative than the comments themselves. As I said, the process of creating kind human beings that are not fools is what I aim for. Definitely not winning some vain debate.
        squigz 2y ago