Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?

One computer scientist says we should embrace human-machine relationships, but other experts are more cautious

Hollywood may have warned about the perils of striking up relationships with artificial intelligence, but one computer scientist says we may be missing a trick if we do not embrace the positives that human-machine relationships have to offer.

Despite the travails of Joaquin Phoenix's introverted and soon-to-be-divorced protagonist in the 2013 movie Her, one professor says we should be open to the comforts that chatbots can provide.