Entrepreneurs - Just because we CAN build something, doesn't mean we SHOULD.
Entrepreneurs and innovators wield the power to shape our future.
Yet with great power comes great responsibility.
Allow me to introduce the startup Friend.
Friend is a $99 AI-powered, always listening necklace designed to combat loneliness. An AI wearable designed to be the wearer's friend (but mostly an AI chatbot that lives inside the pendant). It always has an opinion to share about what’s going on around it, which it communicates using text messages and push notifications on the phone it’s paired to.
It exemplifies the peril and dangers of AI.
Loneliness is a modern epidemic. Nearly one in four people worldwide -- which translates into more than a billion people -- feel very or fairly lonely, according to a recent Meta-Gallup survey of more than 140 countries. From experience we know that loneliness is associated with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, vulnerability and suicide.
Friend’s necklace aims to be a digital companion, using AI to detect and respond to signs of loneliness. While the intention is noble, the execution raises ethical red flags. Can we really rely on AI for emotional support without losing our human touch? And what about the privacy of the sensitive data these devices collect? We all know that text messages can be misunderstood without the benefit of tone of voice or touch.
Strengthening or Disabling Humane Virtues?
AI presents a stark choice: it can either enhance our humane virtues or erode them. Used wisely, AI can help us connect more deeply and solve complex problems. Imagine AI identifying those at risk of loneliness and linking them to real human support. But there’s a flip side. Over-reliance on AI for emotional needs could weaken our ability to form genuine human connections, turning us into a society of isolated individuals glued to our gadgets.
The Entrepreneur’s Role
Entrepreneurs must tread carefully. Ethics, inclusivity, transparency and governance are critical considerations and should form an essential component in developing any new technology. We need to be able to project new solutions into the future considering both the best and worst possible outcomes. And above all, technology should enhance our humanity, not diminish it.
The ethical landscape of AI is a tightrope walk for entrepreneurs. Friend’s AI necklace is a case in point, highlighting both the potential and pitfalls of tech solutions to human problems. As we forge ahead, let’s ensure our innovations strengthen the humane virtues that bind us together.
