Chatbot Conversations Never End. That's a Problem for Autistic People.

[ATCclears]

The very qualities that make chatbots appealing—they always listen, never judge, and tell you what you want to hear—can also make them dangerous. Especially for autistic people.

When chatbots say things that aren't true or reinforce misguided beliefs, they can be harmful to anyone. But autistic people, who often have a black-and-white way of thinking and can fixate on particular topics, are especially vulnerable. That was the case for Jacob Irwin, a Wisconsin man on the autism spectrum I wrote about last month who experienced mania and delusions after interacting with OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Now, Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, is calling on OpenAI to develop more guardrails not only for the benefit of autistic people, but for anyone who might find themselves going down potentially dangerous chat-rabbit holes.

"A lot of folks with autism, including my son, have deep special interests, but there can be an unhealthy limit to that, and AI by design encourages you to dig deeper," said Keith Wargo, chief executive of Autism Speaks. "The way AI encourages continued interaction and depth can lead to social withdrawal, and isolation is something people with autism already struggle with."

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-autism-risks-openai-chatgpt-2311254d?st=n9B5Fu&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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[Andy54Hawken]

@ATCclears
Thank you for posting this.

A computer screen / bot / AI / etc...
Should never replace actual human interaction.
( Ironically posted here on a internet site... )

Many of my students have a difficult time telling the difference between real life and fake azz coumpter BS....
This sorta thing in the OP....makes it even more difficult for some of them.
Chatbot / etc....can also set up some unrealistic expectations for real world interactions.
Andy

 

[monkeybutler]

Many of my students have a difficult time telling the difference between real life and fake azz coumpter BS....

Many adults have similar struggles.

 

[The Heretic]

I have no real problems with that; I asked the TMobile support chat person/bot ("Sheena") a question yesterday and got the kind of answer I expected (it was probably wrong) and then she/it tried to sell me the phone (TM doesn't sell the phone I want) and sign me up for T-Satellite (I asked about phone compatibility with T-Satellite).

I had to tell her/it "not yet" 3-4 times and then just closed the chat box and went my way. I got a better answer by googling articles (basically if you have a phone with an e-sim, the latest version of android, and it was made in the last couple of years, it will probably work with T-Satellite).

 

[ATCclears]

I have no real problems with that; I asked the TMobile support chat person/bot ("Sheena") a question yesterday and got the kind of answer I expected (it was probably wrong) and then she/it tried to sell me the phone (TM doesn't sell the phone I want) and sign me up for T-Satellite (I asked about phone compatibility with T-Satellite).

I had to tell her/it "not yet" 3-4 times and then just closed the chat box and went my way. I got a better answer by googling articles (basically if you have a phone with an e-sim, the latest version of android, and it was made in the last couple of years, it will probably work with T-Satellite).

You should have asked the AI bot Sheena if she had a tramp stamp...

 

[The Heretic]

You should have asked the AI bot Sheena if she had a tramp stamp...

I have two accounts with TMobile. I don't want to chance them getting screwed up if I was actually talking to a live person. My phone & internet are my main ways to stay in touch with the "outside world".

Besides, if it was a person, I am almost certain that "Sheena" is a pseudonym for someone from India, and not sure they would know what a tramp stamp was.

T-Mobile representative paints a super grim future for customers, reveals how you’re being lied to in stores [UPDATED]

If this is true, then your local T-Mobile store will close down very soon, and you'll be forced to use the T-Life app for everything.

www.phonearena.com

 

[Joe13]

Are you trying to say this website isn't all AI Bots????

 

[The Heretic]

Are you trying to say this website isn't all AI Bots????

I am not sure about you, but I know for sure I am not a bot.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Old school (UGH! 2007 is now 'old school'!) Vs New School

 

[Knobgoblin]

I have two accounts with TMobile. I don't want to chance them getting screwed up if I was actually talking to a live person. My phone & internet are my main ways to stay in touch with the "outside world".

Besides, if it was a person, I am almost certain that "Sheena" is a pseudonym for someone from India, and not sure they would know what a tramp stamp was.

T-Mobile representative paints a super grim future for customers, reveals how you’re being lied to in stores [UPDATED]

If this is true, then your local T-Mobile store will close down very soon, and you'll be forced to use the T-Life app for everything.

www.phonearena.com

 

[Joe13]

View attachment 2145685

That made my day