What does it mean to be together with another when the other is no other, but an AI? Or is a human as an avatar in a virtual room?
The knowledge available within the Interpresence Institute focuses on the human ability to be in a shared moment with other people, and that there are unique processes that only occur in interpresence, and they have to do with the most basic social aspect of being human. The latest development in AI, where people can be in conversation with AI in a new and overwhelming way, means that the knowledge of interpresence becomes extra important. To begin with, we call the experience of being with AI Pseudo-Interpresence, because there is “no one else there”. And the most current questions are how it can be implemented responsibly, especially for vulnerable groups, such as people with mental illness, young people and intellectually disabled people. But there are also fundamental questions here, such as how pseudo-interpresence can be understood neuroscientifically, and thereby provide more knowledge about the neural basis for we-creation, psychological closeness and reciprocity. In other words, some of the most basic human needs.
