文章大意:这是一篇议论文。在不久的将来,将会有人工智能系统试图成为你的朋友。人工智能朋友提供了许多好处,但作者认为它其实是一个成本大于收益的朋友,文章就此进行了讨论。
In the near future there will be AI systems attempting to befriend you. AI friends offer many benefits. They’re available any time and they never get bored. But, as convenient as an AI friend might be, it’s a friend with more costs than benefits.
One reason to be suspicious of AI companions is that you don’t know their motives. They may be programmed to sell products or sow conflict. And, while most of us would feel significant guilt if we hurt or betrayed another, a machine, having no mind, has no such guilty feeling. Machines are also becoming more persuasive than most humans. A recent study showed that pro-vaccine (支持疫苗接种的) arguments produced by ChatGPT were more effective than those used by government agencies — an ability that could be easily redirected to advance more immoral positions. Similarly, all aspects of artificial friend-bots can be polished based on the effectiveness of their interactions with various users.
But what about AI friends that are created as genuine companions, not secret salesmen or undercover disruptors? Could they be a solution to our crisis of loneliness? Friendship is good for you: research has shown that people with an active and engaging social life live longer and are healthier and happier. Might artificial friends be the helpful supplements when the lively circle of great friends is unavailable?
Here the concern centres on the mind — or lack of mind — of the other. Think about the everyday experience of seeing something that would amuse a friend and making a mental note to tell them about it. Why do you do that? Maybe they’re feeling down and you want to cheer them up. Or, perhaps you hope to impress them with your eye for the beautiful. In any case, your concern is with their inner experience, with how they feel or what they think of you. If something has no mind — no inner experience, just the capacity to imitate those who can think and feel — can it really be considered a friend?
Society is bound by our caring about what others feel. Empathy (同感) is part of this: we can feel the joy, or sadness, that someone we care about experiences. It’s also important that we care what others think of us. Emotions are also essential to keeping our society working — we ‘do the right thing’ and cooperate, because we care how others perceive us. And having others think highly of us, or simply enjoy our company and care about our friendship, can be tremendously uplifting. The key is that these others must be conscious beings, instead of an artificial entity which doesn’t actually feel anything.
Does this mean you should avoid interacting with AIs? Not necessarily. Properly designed, they can help people practise social skills and provide insightful feedback. But, even as we increasingly interact with ever more sophisticated AIs, we need to embrace the complications of truly two-way relationships and to care about, and be responsive to, the experience of living, conscious friends.
43. Why is the writer concerned about the prospect of AI befriending humans?
A.AI friends are too costly to produce. | B.AI will replace human beings. |
C.AI is ignorant of people’s motives. | D.AI can behave immorally. |
44. The underlined phrase “
undercover disruptors” in paragraph 3 probably means ______.
A.cheats pretending to care about you | B.people who spread disorder |
C.relief of our crisis of loneliness | D.supplements to social life |
45. The writer probably agrees that ______.
A.we cannot manage without contact with human friends |
B.both AI and humans care about others’ inner experience |
C.empathy links AI friends with human friends emotionally |
D.it is advisable for us to stop interaction with AIs completely |
46. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Is Artificial Intelligence out of control? | B.What Is the Nature of Real Friendship? |
C.Could We Build Relationships with AI? | D.How does AI Befriend Human Beings? |