Author: Michael Cowling

1 in 3 people are lonely. Will AI help, or make things worse? Shutterstock Michael Cowling, CQUniversity Australia; Joseph Crawford, University of Tasmania, and Kelly-Ann Allen, Monash University ChatGPT has repeatedly made headlines since its release late last year, with various scholars and professionals exploring its potential applications in both work and education settings. However, one area receiving less attention is the tool’s usefulness as a conversationalist and – dare we say – as a potential friend. Some chatbots have left an unsettling impression. Microsoft’s Bing chatbot alarmed users earlier this year when it threatened and attempted to blackmail them. Yet…