On the humanisation of computer devices & AI and the impact on human relationships…
I have become concerned about the impact on a generation growing up with voice-activated, human-like devices…
Almost all devices using voice interaction, from the first sat-navs to sophisticated interactive devices like Alexa, are given female voices and thus by default endowed with female personalities… Though many allow the user to select an alternate voice and therefore personality, I wonder how many people choose to, or can be bothered to switch to a male one?
Why is this?
Women have traditionally been dangerously and stereotypically characterised as subservient in our culture – there to be men’s helpers, so there may be an automatic (derisory and negative) association with something tasked with a menial task. Also, for men, revealing ignorance on anything is risky with another man – we have to at least pretend to know where we are going and what we are doing – perhaps we wouldn’t want to ask a ‘male’ device! Maybe a ‘female’ one seems less threatening?
What effect does this have on our relationship to women in a society increasingly ‘served’ by sub-human female voices? Will it impact and erode what respect and value the feminist movement has fought for for the last century?
Technology powered by profit can only cater to and therefore reinforce the lowest common denominator cultural patterns. Market research just identifies and reinforces what the majority are already ‘comfortable’ with. The ‘Market’ will never be a driver for positive change – that falls on people, in the form of organised activism, and eventually, government and legislation (this is one of the many good arguments against the current free market hegemony if you were looking for one).
Quite early on in my use of AI assistants, I found myself rethinking my habit of saying please when making a request. Realising it was totally redundant, I have become more brisk and authoritarian in my interactions. The fact that this took a while is probably very English of me, coming from a culture of rigid politeness – no doubt it comes more naturally to Americans!
Noticing this, I started to wonder if the habits gained from our increasingly prevalent use of AIs might have a corresponding impact on the manner of communication with, and our attitudes towards, other humans. Are we relearning the kind of interaction that presumably existed in slave owning cultures (one that I have observed still survives amongst those who have led privileged, wealthy lives and are surrounded by servants)? Are we at risk of having our empathy for others eroded? Will we become a society of little Führers, ordering everyone about? Will women in particular suffer a retrogressive, reactionary impact, leading to a reduction in the respect given them?
At the very least, could this make the British habit of courtesy (as some small gesture of respect towards fellow humans) become redundant?
What is it like if you have the misfortune to actually be called Alexa??