Kaamna Bhojwani

The world is ablaze with how AI and other emerging technologies are revolutionizing how we live and work. Yet, very little attention is being paid to how human relationships will change, even as millions of people are forming intimate relationships with chatbots, are employing AR/VR to create more immersive erotic experiences and are watching eagerly as robots become more lifelike and interactive.

In fact, the prediction is that 1 in 10 young adults would have had an intimate relationship with a humanoid robot by 2045.

In this session, we will talk about the most human of all needs - the need to belong, and how technology can be used to reduce loneliness, to create more self-awareness, and to help people connect more deeply. But there are also downsides that must be considered - such as increasing social isolation, narcissism, and the reinforcement of problematic gender stereotypes and antisocial behaviors.

Any technological advancement is a double-edged sword. The power to harness AI to deepen inter-human connection is in our hands, literally.