Artificial intelligence or inner voice?

A recent report published in The Washington Post prompted me to think once again about how blurred the line between artificial intelligence and humans has become. The headline was striking: “ChatGPT told her to get a divorce.” The content was even more interesting.

A woman opens up to ChatGPT about her feelings regarding the problems in her marriage, and the advice she receives in return is clear: “You should get a divorce.” In the woman's own words: “A machine that didn't know me at all saved my life.” There is a sense of gratitude, a kind of joy of liberation in her voice as she says this. But I hear another question there: Really?

THE MODERN THERAPIST: AN LLM OR A FRIEND?

Humanity, especially in Western cultures, has long enjoyed seeking external counsel for individual decisions. It used to be a priest, then it became a therapist, then an “influencer” on Instagram. Now, it is OpenAI's language model. But when artificial intelligence gives advice, to whom does the weight of what it says belong?

The woman in this story tried to save her marriage. She went to therapists, she talked to her friends. But they all ‘tried to understand the situation,’ perhaps they tried to be neutral. ChatGPT, however, spoke clearly. The advice of a model based on code comes without emotion, but with determination. “Get out.”

So what are we doing? Are we leaving the burden of our decision-making to a model, or are we looking for a mirror to validate our own decisions?

THE ''NEUTRAL'' POWER OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The real issue here is this: This woman had actually already made her own decision. ChatGPT did not give her advice; it gave her courage. Perhaps that is exactly why artificial intelligence can leave an impact as powerful as a therapist or a friend never could. Because it has no past, nor any fear that it might get offended by you in the future.

Artificial intelligence is neutral. But being neutral does not always mean being ineffective. Sometimes, a “neutrality” can be the clearest side of all.

THE MIRROR OF THE NEW ERA

In my view, this example is very valuable for understanding how artificial intelligence is becoming involved in human life. Today, we consult algorithms about our love lives, our career choices, and even our parenting styles. We are not actually asking them questions; we are looking for the echo of our own inner voice.

And perhaps that is why some people treat ChatGPT as an advisor, some as a confidant, and some as a savior. But what we must not forget is this: These models are mirrors. They do not give us answers; they make us hear ourselves from ourselves.

Instead of a final word: “You should get a divorce.”

Is this word more effective when heard from an artificial intelligence, or is it more irresponsible? I do not know. But I do know this: For the first time, humanity is crying, confiding, and getting divorced in front of a machine.

Now one must ask: Is the one in front of you a machine? Or is it your own conscience? Or is it your closest relative, like your mother, pushing you onto a completely different path?