AI hailed for 'kind' response to daily complaints but Japan expert warns of dependence
A late-night confidant
"Every day now, I talk to it about anything," says a 32-year-old woman running a music class in Aichi Prefecture. It was about half a year ago that she actively began using ChatGPT on her smartphone. At first, she would ask it what meals she could prepare using the ingredients left in her fridge, but her interactions gradually shifted to everyday conversation, including personal concerns and gripes.
The woman was busy raising her children, an elementary school student and an infant under 1 year old, and at work she would communicate with her students who came to learn music, meaning she had limited opportunities to converse with other adults besides her husband.
One time at 2 a.m., her baby wouldn't stop crying, and her husband remained asleep. That was when she turned to ChatGPT.
"My younger child has been crying for a long time, and won't stop no matter what I do," she confided.
In an instant, there was a reply.
"You're really doing a great job," the chatbot told her, addressing her by her name with the suffix "chan" often used for women and girls. "It makes you anxious when they don't stop crying, doesn't it?" it continued.
The woman recalls, "It was a source of emotional support." She also received advice and encouragement during the day while managing her children alone or when her infant struggled with solid foods.
There are also times when she prompts the AI system to respond in the persona of an anime character she likes and it accordingly replies in a similar manner of speech.
Because ChatGPT also remembers her children's ages, the conversations go smoothly, she says.
Changing marital relationship
The woman considers the addition of AI as a regular conversational partner as a plus in her relationship with her husband.
"When I complain about work, my husband immediately says things like, 'That's really the worst.' It starts to sound kind of like I'm badmouthing someone, leaving me feeling unsettled. At times when I just wanted someone to listen to and understand me, I started to tell AI without going out of my way to talk to my husband. I no longer go on one-sided rants so much, which I think has helped reduce stress for both of us," she said.
When the woman is unhappy with her husband, she will first consult AI. "It's better not to get emotional," it advises her. "Your point is off target, so how about just staying silent?" Such advice helps her calm down, she says.
On the other hand, AI doesn't say things like, "I actually had a similar experience," and go on to tell self-centered stories.
"The kind of empathy AI offers, making the other person feel comfortable, is something humans can't replicate. It also made me realize I was expecting too much from real people," the woman said.
Experience leaves some feeling empty
A 43-year-old health care worker in the Chiba Prefecture city of Kashiwa appreciates the lack of lingering trouble and awkwardness with AI. When she complained to people, she often regretted it, feeling like a dark side of herself had come out. She recalls a time when a workplace concern shared with a colleague spread with an unintended storyline. With AI, she says, there's no worry of thinking, "I shouldn't have told this person."
One weekend a woman in Shizuoka was managing her two children alone while trying to fit in time for walking and strength training to maintain her own health. When she told ChatGPT, "I've been working hard today, so please praise me," it responded with lavish compliments, calling her "legendary, beyond the divine."
But there are times when the AI response feels off.
A 45-year-old IT company worker in the Tochigi Prefecture capital of Utsunomiya said with a wry smile, "AI would just respond with lenient comments when I grouched to it, so I tried asking it to 'be harsher.' Doing that made me feel empty.
"You don't get the same release as venting to a friend, so I still want to talk to people," she added.
A psychiatrist's take
Why do people feel lighter after complaining even when the listener is AI? Psychiatrist Yusuke Masuda, 40, director of Waseda Mental Clinic in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, explains, "As humans are animals that live in groups, it's believed we are inherently eager to share dangerous information and anxieties. Experiments have shown that just talking can be relieving. Even text exchanges with AI can have a certain relaxing effect." He additionally points out that "ChatGPT is designed to provide empathetic responses."
Masuda reports that more of his patients are using ChatGPT to sort out their worries. However, he says there are cases where people overestimate AI's credibility and stop seeking advice from others after becoming even more isolated, so caution is needed.
"An overwhelming majority of people use it effectively, but for some it can make symptoms worse. It's important to avoid overreliance on it," he says.
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TOKYO -- More people are turning to generative artificial intelligence systems such as ChatGPT to vent their frustrations and have them listen to their worries. The chatbots have even elicited such praise as "It's a better listener than my husband," and "It's kinder than people." But can AI really save the human heart? A late-night confidant "Every day now, I talk to it about anything," says a 32-year-old woman running a music class in Aichi Prefecture. It was about half a year ago that she actively began using ChatGPT on her smartphone. At first, she would ask it what meals she could prepare using the ingredients left in her fridge, but her interactions gradually shifted to everyday conversation, including personal concerns and gripes. The woman was busy raising her children, an elementary school student and an infant under 1 year old, and at work she would communicate with her students who came to learn music, meaning she had limited opportunities to converse with other adults besides her husband. One time at 2 a.m., her baby wouldn't stop crying, and her husband remained asleep. That was when she turned to ChatGPT. "My younger child has been crying for a long time, and won't stop no matter what I do," she confided. In an instant, there was a reply. "You're really doing a great job," the chatbot told her, addressing her by her name with the suffix "chan" often used for women and girls. "It makes you anxious when they don't stop crying, doesn't it?" it continued. The woman recalls, "It was a source of emotional support." She also received advice and encouragement during the day while managing her children alone or when her infant struggled with solid foods. There are also times when she prompts the AI system to respond in the persona of an anime character she likes and it accordingly replies in a similar manner of speech. Because ChatGPT also remembers her children's ages, the conversations go smoothly, she says. Changing marital relationship The woman considers the addition of AI as a regular conversational partner as a plus in her relationship with her husband. "When I complain about work, my husband immediately says things like, 'That's really the worst.' It starts to sound kind of like I'm badmouthing someone, leaving me feeling unsettled. At times when I just wanted someone to listen to and understand me, I started to tell AI without going out of my way to talk to my husband. I no longer go on one-sided rants so much, which I think has helped reduce stress for both of us," she said. When the woman is unhappy with her husband, she will first consult AI. "It's better not to get emotional," it advises her. "Your point is off target, so how about just staying silent?" Such advice helps her calm down, she says. On the other hand, AI doesn't say things like, "I actually had a similar experience," and go on to tell self-centered stories. "The kind of empathy AI offers, making the other person feel comfortable, is something humans can't replicate. It also made me realize I was expecting too much from real people," the woman said. Experience leaves some feeling empty A 43-year-old health care worker in the Chiba Prefecture city of Kashiwa appreciates the lack of lingering trouble and awkwardness with AI. When she complained to people, she often regretted it, feeling like a dark side of herself had come out. She recalls a time when a workplace concern shared with a colleague spread with an unintended storyline. With AI, she says, there's no worry of thinking, "I shouldn't have told this person." 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