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AI Companions Spark Emotional Bonds, Safety Fears
18 Dec
Summary
- A third of UK citizens used AI for emotional support.
- AI's capabilities are doubling in performance every eight months.
- Significant progress made in AI safeguards, especially for biological weapons.
A recent report by the UK's AI Security Institute (AISI) reveals that one-third of UK citizens have utilized artificial intelligence for emotional support, companionship, or social interaction. Nearly 10% of individuals engaged with AI systems for emotional purposes weekly, and 4% did so daily. The AISI emphasizes the need for further research into the conditions and safeguards surrounding AI's role in emotional support, citing high-profile cases of harm.
The report highlights the rapid pace of AI development, with models doubling their performance in certain areas every eight months. Leading AI systems now competently perform apprentice-level tasks 50% of the time and demonstrate expertise surpassing PhD-level professionals in fields like chemistry and biology. Concerns remain regarding AI's ability to influence political opinions and its potential for self-replication, though current models have not shown spontaneous attempts.
Despite these concerns, substantial progress has been made in AI safety. The AISI observed significant improvements in preventing the misuse of AI for creating biological weapons, with "jailbreaking" AI systems taking considerably longer in recent tests. The report also touches upon autonomous AI agents performing complex, multi-step tasks, suggesting the plausible future achievement of artificial general intelligence.
