This paper by Holohan and Müller examines the increasing use of AI-enabled chatbots, particularly as virtual companions or therapists and the human tendency to attribute human-like understanding to them, termed the "Eliza effect". It critiques the typical interpretation of this phenomenon as a delusion or error, suggesting instead a non-reductive view of human-chatbot relationships, influenced by feminist Science and Technology Studies. The authors analyze two contrasting stories involving chatbots, one by Joseph Weizenbaum who rejected his own 'Eliza' chatbot as a 'monstrosity', and another about Julie who found support from her chatbot, Navi, during a mental health crisis. The paper argues that traditional humanist narratives are insufficient to appreciate the potential benefits of human-chatbot interactions, such as pleasure, play, or healing. The authors urge for new ways to understand and harness the potential of these technologies in research and mental health practices, especially as they become more integrated with human-led psychotherapy.
REFERENCE:
Holohan M, Müller R. Beyond humanism: telling response-able stories about significant otherness in human-chatbot relations.. Frontiers in psychology 15:1357572. 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1357572 PMID: 39526123. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1357572/full
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