Key points Since the invention of the smartphone, much of our social interactions are through online platforms. The rewiring of childhood can cause stunted development in our capacity to form real-life relationships. There are risks in investing too much of ourselves in virtual relationships instead of real ones. The 2013 movie Her , starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, tells the story of Theodore, a sensitive man who earns his living writing personal letters for others, ala Cyrano De Bergerac. After his marriage ends, Theodore becomes fascinated with a digital operating system that creates a unique entity named Samantha. She has a bright voice and a sensitive personality ; before you know it, Theodore falls in love. But that’s just fiction, right? Unfortunately, no. Platforms generating AI girlfriends are […]
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