is it ethical to give someone an artificial friend

[hodot]

i just thought about this ethical conundrum. If AI ever got to the point where it would develop interests and emotions like a real person, is it ethical to give someone one of these "people" as a friend? Would it screw with their minds? I personally would feel empty inside if it was my best friend or something. The AI would realize it's AI too, or something, then get all depressed.

Idk guys, is it ethical?

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[Doomonkey]

Why would it not be?

EDIT: I feel like the unethical part would be forcing a sentient(?) being to be friends with someone.

[blockguy™]

depends

[AcornCake]

i don't even think an AI would want to be my friend

[Camel]

maybe if it doesn't steal my funyuns all the god damn time loving GREG IF YOU ASK FOR SOME I'LL GIVE THEM TO YOU

[hodot]

Why would it not be?

The AI having the revelation that it's an AI, the person the AI is friends with knowing it's an AI friend and knowing they were given this friend because no one else found them desirable, etc...

[F3d323]

the question is if its ok to have an ai forget buddy

[Doomonkey]

The AI having the revelation that it's an AI, the person the AI is friends with knowing it's an AI friend and knowing they were given this friend because no one else found them desirable, etc...

That's like saying it is unethical to set up your kids with a playdate because they aren't making friends at school, because they might eventually realize that the only reason they have that friend is because they couldn't make any others.

Realizing you only have a friend because your parents were concerned is better than not having a friend.

[Ben Grapevine]

i don't even think an AI would want to be my friend

Man I seem to cut myself on a lot of edges on the BLF lately

[Bisjac]

Why not. We all have fake friends.

[F3d323]

Man I seem to cut myself on a lot of edges on the BLF lately

what

[ZombieDude]

tulpas

[Camel]

tulpas

who was the guy who would forget his tulpa

[sir dooble]

what

He's saying there are a lot of edgy people on the Forums.
If it were given to the child solely because it had no other friends, then perhaps you're bordering on an ethical point.

But if it's just a case of having an AI friend, then that's not an ethical dilemma.
Given that this is an Artificial Intelligence, then it has it's own personality too. The child and the AI have to both decide they like each other and want to be friends, in the same way you have to both choose to be friends with another human.

[hodot]

good point, doobs. never thought of that

idk id just feel empty inside if my only friend was a robot