Hacker News Reader

I struggle so much with what the allure is for using a chatbot for companionship and I've dealt with loneliness before. Then again I struggle to understand how people become fixated on celebrities or adult actors.

Either one seems so glaringly artificial and transactional it'd be more depressing than loneliness.

View on HN

I think the allure is similar to why older people are far more susceptible to pig-butchering or romance scams. I think that in her case, Copilot is a replacement for the lack of attention she cannot get in real life. I have repeatedly told her that I am not able to give her the attention she wants/needs.

People 50 years ago would laugh at the irony of that statement, being made here on what we call the internet. Real life will never be digital, and yet here we are, talking to anonymous strangers many of whom are not actual people.

I considered this too but I didn't think it too ironic considering anonymous pen pals have been a thing since the 20th century at least. Obviously the technology would amaze, but the concept would be understandable and appreciated.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com