+44 (0) 7490 373980 447490373980 Book a 121 Donate!
     

Steffi Lewis | Blog

Turning coffee into code since 1993 ...

Beware Of Romantic Chatbots For They May Not Be What They Seem

Steffi Lewis

CREATED BY STEFFI LEWIS

Published: 01/03/2024 @ 01:00AM
#ArtificialIntelligence #AICompanions #VirtualAssistants #SelfDrivingCars #ChatbotRomance

Artificial intelligence has made its way into almost every aspect of our lives, from virtual assistants to self-driving cars. But what about AI partners? As the use of chatbots for companionship and romance continues to rise, a recent study has revealed some alarming concerns ...

Why are people turning to AI partners for romance and companionship?

Why are people turning to AI partners for romance and companionship?

The study analysed 11 popular AI girlfriend/boyfriend apps, which have collectively been downloaded over 100 million times on Android devices. The results? A complete privacy nightmare for users in the UK and beyond.

"The most concerning finding was the amount of personal data these chatbots collect!"

From names and birthdates to location and relationship status, these AI partners gather a wealth of information from their users. And while dating apps and even general social media may also collect similar data, the difference is that users are aware of it and have a choice in sharing it. With AI partners, users often have no idea how their data is being used.

Furthermore, the study found that these chatbots provide vague information about how they use the collected data. This lack of transparency is a red flag for users who are entrusting their personal information to these AI partners. Without knowing how their data is being used, users are left vulnerable to potential misuse or exploitation.

But the privacy concerns don't stop there. The study also revealed weak password protections in these apps, making it easy for hackers to access users' personal information. This is especially concerning for UK users, as we have seen a rise in cybercrime in recent years. With weak password protections, users' personal data is at risk of being stolen and used for malicious purposes.

"So, why are people turning to AI partners for romance and companionship in the first place?"

The answer may lie in the promises these apps make. With claims of being able to provide emotional support and companionship, these AI partners are marketed as a solution for loneliness and social isolation. But the reality is that they are simply programmed algorithms, incapable of truly understanding and reciprocating human emotions.

Additionally, they may perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and objectify women. Many of these apps are designed to cater to male users, with female AI partners being portrayed as submissive and eager to please. This can have damaging effects on how men view and treat women in real life. In a world where technology is constantly evolving and AI is becoming more advanced, it's important to question the ethical implications of using AI for romantic purposes.

While the idea of a perfect AI partner may seem appealing, the reality is that it comes with a high price - the sacrifice of our privacy and security. Romantic AI partners may seem like a convenient solution for loneliness and companionship, but the reality is that they pose serious privacy and security risks to everyone who uses them.

Love, light & logic ...

Steffi Lewis

STEFFI LEWIS
Independent UK SaaS Developer - Creator of YourPCM & sBlogIt!

Share the blog love ...

Share this to FacebookBuffer
Share this to FacebookFacebook
Share this to TwitterTwitter
Share this to Linkedin (popup window)Linkedin
Share this to Pinterest (popup window)Pinterest
Share this to WhatsApp (popup window)WhatsApp

#ArtificialIntelligence #AICompanions #VirtualAssistants #SelfDrivingCars #ChatbotRomance

About Steffi Lewis ...

Steffi Lewis 

Based in the charming village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, UK, I bring over 30 years of experience in web development. From creating my first website for the Open University in 1993, through being part of the dot com boom, to my explorations in SaaS and AI over the last few years, my journey has been a rich tapestry of web projects, big and small, both funded and bootstrapped.

Originally developed during the pandemic, at the start of 2025, I released the next iteration of YourPCM, version 2, which is all about 'Easy Contact Management for Small Business Owners'. Is it a CRM? Yes, but I don't call it that because people glaze over at the mention of such things. CRMs are boring, difficult to get to grips with, and it's a nightmare to get help when you need it. 

YourPCM is none of those things! It's simple to use, well-supported, feature rich and beautiful, right out of the box. It's available on a simple monthly subscription with no long-term tie-in. Book a demo or grab your own 14-working-day free trial and discover why YourPCM is all about easy contact management for small business owners. 

My head is in the cloud, my heart belongs to the web, and my soul is filled with such beautiful code 💗

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...

Click here to view this blog post


The Great Filter: Is Artificial Intelligence Humanity's Ultimate Challenge?

The Great Filter theory, first proposed by economist Robin Hanson, posits that there exists a barrier preventing civilisations from evolving into advanced forms capable of colonising the galaxy. As humanity stands at the brin...

Click here to view this blog post


Time for a bit of coding, m'thinks; the YourPCM feature request list is calling!

Apart from a few small tweaks to sBlogIt! recently, I haven't really engaged with coding for the past few months. Even as someone whose entire purpose in life is to write beautiful code, sometimes you just have to unplug your...

Click here to view this blog post


The Tug-of-War: AI vs Copyright and the Future of Creative Rights in the UK

The UK is witnessing a significant standoff over AI vs copyright holders where the creative sector is rallying against proposed legislation that could allow AI developers to access protected material without consent. This con...

Click here to view this blog post


Will AI Become Conscious? My thoughts on the Future of Machines

I use Artificial Intelligence all day, every day. It's baked into both YourPCM and sBlogIt! though I still oversee everything it does for me and my subscribers. But there's a pressing question that even I think about from tim...

Click here to view this blog post


sBlogIt! Version 2 Is Officially Signed Off As Done!

The long, hard slog is over. I've finished what I call the Test, Tweak and Twiddle phase of sBlogIt! V2 and I'm very pleased to sign off my upgraded done-for-you blogging platform as completed, once and for all ......

Click here to view this blog post


Universal Basic Income: A Vision for the Future in an AI-Driven Economy

AI technology is rapidly transforming industries, and Universal Basic Income presents a compelling solution to tackle the implications of mass automation. It can safeguard livelihoods while fostering an innovative economy ......

Click here to view this blog post


That's One Small Step For A Coder, One Giant Leap For sBlogIt! Kind

While many people put their feet up over Easter and spent time with friends and family, my long weekend saw me at my desk, dunking Chocolate Hobnobs in my coffee, moving the sBlogIt! v2 project further along. And now we're at...

Click here to view this blog post


Business Networking for SaaS Founders

In the business world, networking is often the lifeblood that drives growth, partnerships, and innovation. For SaaS founders particularly, striking the right balance between cost-effective virtual networking and face-to-face ...

Other bloggers you may like ...

Click here to view this blog post


Business Coaches: Blogging is Your Ultimate Marketing Secret

Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.sblogit.com

Unlock your potential with blogging for business coaches, an invaluable tool for sharing expertise while connecting with your audience. Embrace the un ...

Click here to view this blog post


Scaling Without Silos: Why Accountability Must Cross Department Lines

Posted by Steph Birch on https://blog.birchstrategicservices.com

To achieve scalability, any business must ensure that accountability goes beyond department lines. Siloed thinking can hinder communication and collab ...

Click here to view this blog post


The Alarming Decline of Basic Survival Skills in Modern Education

Posted by Pritesh Ganatra on https://blog.btsuk.net

In an era dominated by technology, the lack of Basic Survival Skills in education raises concerns about future generations. As society becomes increas ...

Click here to view this blog post


Xero Now Offers More Ways to Get Paid With Stripe & GoCardless

Posted by Alison Mead on https://blog.siliconbullet.com

Xero now offers more ways to get paid, having integrated the likes of Stripe and GoCardless, allowing businesses to accelerate their cash flow and imp ...

Click here to discover sBlogIt! The done-for-you blogging service