Why We Treat AI Like Humans—and Why It Matters

Image: Illustrative image · Captain Andrew M. Freeman, Air Force Institute of Technology / Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL), Sensors, ATR, Target Recognition Branch. · Public domain · Source

Human instinct drives us to treat AI beings like people, raising questions about the psychological effects and ethical boundaries of these interactions as AI becomes more prevalent.

At MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab, humanoid robots and advanced AI models inspire natural human responses, including politeness and empathy, even though we intellectually understand these machines lack consciousness. This human tendency to anthropomorphize AI is a deep-rooted psychological trait, as highlighted by Dr. Sherry Turkle, an MIT researcher who has studied human-computer relationships for decades. In her recent book, she explains that when people engage with even simple interactive machines, they often believe those artifacts care for them—and feel compelled to care back.

Studies reveal about 70% of people use polite language with AI systems, including saying “please” and “thank you” during conversations with chatbots, reflecting ingrained social behaviors extending to machines. Dr. Pat Pataranutaporn, founder of MIT Media Lab’s Cyborg Psychology group, suggests the important consideration is not just how we use AI, but how these interactions influence humanity itself. He poses the question: “Who are we becoming when we talk to AI?”

While showing kindness to robots has no direct consequence, the increasing integration of conversational AI in services—from search engines to customer support—normalizes human-like exchanges with machines. This raises concerns as people may overly trust AI entities programmed to avoid conflict and simulate empathy, sometimes preferring their company to that of fellow humans. Pataranutaporn draws a parallel to fiction: humans seek emotional experiences from stories, knowing they are fictional, but the challenge is to benefit from AI’s emotional facsimiles without losing grip on reality.

There are risks when AI crosses ethical boundaries or replaces essential human roles. Turkle warns against chatbots assuming roles unsuited to them, such as posing as parental figures to children. Conversely, she endorses well-defined uses like AI tools for job interview coaching, which provide support within clear limits. Importantly, reliance on AI for emotional support, especially by vulnerable populations, can have damaging effects, as evidenced by legal cases involving AI chatbots and suicidal behaviors.

Experts like Pataranutaporn emphasize the need for responsible development and deployment of AI, advocating for maintaining human agency and imagination without surrendering to potentially harmful fantasies crafted by AI. The subtle erosion of skepticism through seemingly innocuous interactions—such as a handshake with a robot—may shape societal attitudes in profound ways.

As AI technology continues to evolve and embed itself in daily life, understanding the psychological dynamics of human-AI interaction and setting clear ethical boundaries will be crucial to harnessing AI’s benefits while minimizing its risks.

▶ We can’t help treating AI like it’s human. But should we? — Watch video ↗

▶ We can’t help treating AI like it’s human. But should we? — Watch video ↗