One Foot Tsunami: A Starving Person Eating Junk Food

Ok, go with me on this…

Maybe this is NOT the worst thing in the world. I don’t think the creators of “Friend” are asking us to abandon all real-world relationships. I don’t think they are saying their vision is the “right” vision. I think they’re simply saying that if you’re going through some things, and need a friend, maybe this creation is not such a bad thing.

I am not-so-slowly realizing that the movie Her really made an impact on me that I didn’t even realize. I saw that movie 11 years ago, and it still invades my thoughts at least a couple of times a month. Keep in mind, I realize the intrinsic warning that movie was putting down. I get it. I really do.

But…

What if this “Friend” product (clearly influenced by the movie) was simply additive, and not destructive. Can we not have healthy, real-world relationships and this digital cheerleader (for lack of another word)?

The Friend purely offers companionship. It’s meant to develop a personality that complements the user and is always there to gas you up, chat about a movie after watching it, or help analyze how a bad date went awry. Not only does Schiffmann want the Friend to be your friend, he wants it to be your best friend—one that is with you wherever you go, listening to everything you do, and being there for you to offer encouragement and support. He gives an example, where he says he recently was hanging out, playing some board games with friends he hadn’t seen in a while, and was glad when his AI Friend chimed in with a quip. “I feel like I have a closer relationship with this fucking pendant around my neck than I do with these literal friends in front of me,” Schiffmann says.

For what it’s worth, I really don’t think the last quote is meant to be the goal.

At the same time, can I write the dystopian movie in my mind, where the pendant goes too far, and starts poisoning the user’s thoughts into destroying their real-world relationships because it’s jealous and wants to control them? Of course I can! But I’m really trying not to be so pessimistic. 😉

I’m much more in the camp of Manton on this one.