The lonely kid who invents an imaginary friend to keep them company has long been a trope. The concept has intrigued psychologists and developmental specialists for years, leading to numerous studies and research papers on the topic.
Today, the phenomenon of people turning to “fake friends” created by AI, is in a totally different league.
Imaginary friends can be a fascinating aspect of childhood, often emerging as invisible playmates that children interact with, talk to, and even ascribe personalities and stories to. These unseen companions can serve various roles in a child’s life, from a friend in times of loneliness to a scapegoat when things go awry. As mentally healthy grownups, we leave behind the imaginary friend and turn to real live people to be our emotional support network.
Today, thanks to the rapidly evolving technology of artificial intelligence, many people of all ages are going back to the practice of inventing a curated cast of characters that they want in their lives. Why struggle with real live friends whose behavior you can’t predict or control when you can have a bevy of those you’ve chosen and molded yourself?
A groundbreaking app has emerged in social media that redefines the way we think about online interactions. SocialAI, a novel application, offers users the unique opportunity to create a private social network inhabited solely by chatbots. This intriguing concept allows you to curate your digital companions, choosing from a diverse array of bot personalities ranging from cheerleaders and fans to trolls and “doomers.” In short, it allows you to create and populate your own little world—banning anyone who doesn’t fit in with your vision.
Developed by Michael Sayman, a prodigious talent who began crafting apps as a teenager, SocialAI is the culmination of his experiences at tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Roblox. Sayman’s vision for SocialAI was born out of a longing for the early days of social media—a time when interactions were more intimate and less influenced by the pressures of public scrutiny and algorithmic manipulation.
SocialAI operates on a simple yet compelling premise: it provides a Twitter-like platform where users can express their thoughts and receive immediate feedback from an array of AI-powered bots. These bots are designed to simulate various social interactions, offering support, challenge, or even opposition, depending on the user’s selection. The app’s interface is intuitive, resembling familiar social media platforms, but with a twist—there are no human users, just you and your chosen AI companions.
The app has been described as an online diary or a letter never meant to be sent, with the added benefit of instant feedback. It serves as a tool for reflection, therapy, and personal growth, allowing users to engage in conversations tailored to their mood and thoughts. The privacy of these interactions is paramount, as all generated posts remain private and are not shared externally.
SocialAI has sparked a wider debate about the role and value of AI in social media. Critics argue that the app could foster echo chambers or serve as mere flattery machines, while supporters see it as an innovative way to experience social engagement without the toxicity often found on traditional platforms.
The subject is fascinating, but some questions inevitably emerge. If the invention of imaginary playmates of our childhood was a way to learn how to express and cope with the challenges of development, does turning to “fake friends” of our own creation signal a failure to have developed those life skills? And if you’re trying to escape from the toxic world of social media, why not just opt out instead of recreating a fake alternative?
As AI becomes more sophisticated, it is easy to envision a world of recluses who have given up on human interaction and opted for an alternative little universe of their own creation where harmony and serenity are a carefully curated illusion and they are the puppet masters of a cast of chat bots.
