Please wait... This may take a moment.
Artificial Intimacy
Virtual Friends, Digital Lovers, and Algorithmic Matchmakers
by Rob Brooks
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date
Sep 07 2021
| Archive Date
Dec 15 2021
Description
What happens when the human brain, which evolved over eons, collides with twenty-first-century technology? Machines can now push psychological buttons, stimulating and sometimes exploiting the ways people make friends, gossip with neighbors, and grow intimate with lovers. Sex robots present the humanoid face of this technological revolution—yet although it is easy to gawk at their uncanniness, more familiar technologies based in artificial intelligence and virtual reality are insinuating themselves into human interactions. Digital lovers, virtual friends, and algorithmic matchmakers help us manage our feelings in a world of cognitive overload. Will these machines, fueled by masses of user data and powered by algorithms that learn all the time, transform the quality of human life?
Artificial Intimacy offers an innovative perspective on the possibilities of the present and near future. The evolutionary biologist Rob Brooks explores the latest research on intimacy and desire to consider the interaction of new technologies and fundamental human behaviors. He details how existing artificial intelligences can already learn and exploit human social needs—and are getting better at what they do. Brooks combines an understanding of core human traits from evolutionary biology with analysis of how cultural, economic, and technological contexts shape the ways people express them. Beyond the technology, he asks what the implications of artificial intimacy will be for how we understand ourselves.
What happens when the human brain, which evolved over eons, collides with twenty-first-century technology? Machines can now push psychological buttons, stimulating and sometimes exploiting the ways...
Description
What happens when the human brain, which evolved over eons, collides with twenty-first-century technology? Machines can now push psychological buttons, stimulating and sometimes exploiting the ways people make friends, gossip with neighbors, and grow intimate with lovers. Sex robots present the humanoid face of this technological revolution—yet although it is easy to gawk at their uncanniness, more familiar technologies based in artificial intelligence and virtual reality are insinuating themselves into human interactions. Digital lovers, virtual friends, and algorithmic matchmakers help us manage our feelings in a world of cognitive overload. Will these machines, fueled by masses of user data and powered by algorithms that learn all the time, transform the quality of human life?
Artificial Intimacy offers an innovative perspective on the possibilities of the present and near future. The evolutionary biologist Rob Brooks explores the latest research on intimacy and desire to consider the interaction of new technologies and fundamental human behaviors. He details how existing artificial intelligences can already learn and exploit human social needs—and are getting better at what they do. Brooks combines an understanding of core human traits from evolutionary biology with analysis of how cultural, economic, and technological contexts shape the ways people express them. Beyond the technology, he asks what the implications of artificial intimacy will be for how we understand ourselves.
Advance Praise
"Fantastic, funny, informative, and very, very timely."
--Kate Devlin, author of Turned On
"...a great example of how to use an evolutionary perspective on human nature to illuminate an emerging, evolutionarily unprecedented area of modern life."
--Steve Stewart-Willliams, author of The Ape that Understood the Universe
"Fantastic, funny, informative, and very, very timely."
--Kate Devlin, author of Turned On
"...a great example of how to use an evolutionary perspective on human nature to illuminate an emerging...
Advance Praise
"Fantastic, funny, informative, and very, very timely."
--Kate Devlin, author of Turned On
"...a great example of how to use an evolutionary perspective on human nature to illuminate an emerging, evolutionarily unprecedented area of modern life."
--Steve Stewart-Willliams, author of The Ape that Understood the Universe
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9780231200943 |
| PRICE |
$32.00 (USD)
|
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Other Format |
| ISBN |
9780231200943 |
| PRICE |
$32.00 (USD)
|
Average rating from 7 members
Featured Reviews
Kacie C, Reviewer
This book provides an interesting look at how artificial intimacy (AI) could potentially change societies, economies and our' interpersonal relationships . It offers a very much needed conversation about the implications of artificial intimacy for our human needs and social structure.
The book is clearly well-researched and thought out. The writing is intellectual and approachable, and made my reading experience really enjoyable. Fascinating concepts like grooming, gender inequality and sexual conflicts brought by AI were introduced and explained in depth in an easy-to-understand manner. The author also provides a comprehensive conclusion/recommendation with recognition that there's no one size fits all solution.
Yet, the scope of AI tech covered is quite narrow. While there's some exploration on matchmaking apps and virtual friends, the book mainly revolves around sex robots. I was hoping for more discussion on a wider range of possible AI applications. The book also largely focuses on the needs and wants of men. Not that women are being written in a disrespectful way, it's just with all the analysis on, e.g. how sex robots can be used to defuse anger of InCel, there's no (or little) mention of what they can do for women.
All in all, I'd still recommend this book!
Reviewer 802375
It was an enjoyable reading. The author brought all the data and statistics to present in a clear way the idea of artificial intimacy and why or how it might develop in a certain way in the near future or distant future. Maybe it talked too much about sex robots but overall I enjoyed the book.
Featured Reviews
Kacie C, Reviewer
This book provides an interesting look at how artificial intimacy (AI) could potentially change societies, economies and our' interpersonal relationships . It offers a very much needed conversation about the implications of artificial intimacy for our human needs and social structure.
The book is clearly well-researched and thought out. The writing is intellectual and approachable, and made my reading experience really enjoyable. Fascinating concepts like grooming, gender inequality and sexual conflicts brought by AI were introduced and explained in depth in an easy-to-understand manner. The author also provides a comprehensive conclusion/recommendation with recognition that there's no one size fits all solution.
Yet, the scope of AI tech covered is quite narrow. While there's some exploration on matchmaking apps and virtual friends, the book mainly revolves around sex robots. I was hoping for more discussion on a wider range of possible AI applications. The book also largely focuses on the needs and wants of men. Not that women are being written in a disrespectful way, it's just with all the analysis on, e.g. how sex robots can be used to defuse anger of InCel, there's no (or little) mention of what they can do for women.
All in all, I'd still recommend this book!
Reviewer 802375
It was an enjoyable reading. The author brought all the data and statistics to present in a clear way the idea of artificial intimacy and why or how it might develop in a certain way in the near future or distant future. Maybe it talked too much about sex robots but overall I enjoyed the book.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Duch
JB Miller
Entertainment & Pop Culture, Humor & Satire, Literary Fiction
