AI Advancement Allows Users to Communicate with their Future Self, Researchers Discover
Tech & AI | June 23, 2024, 1:43 p.m.
MIT researchers have developed a chatbot that allows users to converse with their "future selves," created using artificial intelligence. By mimicking natural conversations, this chatbot aims to enhance users' well-being by reducing anxiety and increasing motivation. The concept is based on "future self-continuity," where individuals who feel a strong connection to their future selves are more likely to make decisions that benefit their long-term well-being. Preliminary studies show that interacting with the digital older self resulted in decreased anxiety and lower negative emotions. However, further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of this technology. The chatbot serves as a nudge or intervention designed to influence user behavior positively by making the future self more relevant to the present. Ultimately, the success of this chatbot relies on its ability to sound authentic and provide a realistic visual representation of the user's future self.