ChatGPT has replaced my friend's life

[u/Sea_Difference_3173]

My best friend relies too much on ChatGPT to the point where they can't go a day without using it. They use it to plan their day, decide what to eat, and to decide how to respond to other people's text messages. However, it's gotten so bad to the point where she admitted to me that she spent half a day, in bed, talking to ChatGPT about her love horoscope using a "template" she found on Tiktok.

The other day, she asked me for advice on whether or not she should give out her personal Instagram to people she will be networking with as part of her job. I told her it probably wasn't a good idea and gave my reasons for it. Then she goes "You know what, I'll just ask ChatGPT when I get home later to see if it's a good idea." At that moment, I realized she trusted ChatGPT more than me. We've been friends for more than 11 years.

Don't get me wrong, I understand ChatGPT is a very useful tool. I use it for school work and to help me study efficiently. However, I think for her it's gotten to the point where she cannot survive without ChatGPT.

Edit: To clarify, I told her that giving out her personal, private instagram to potential clients she might work with is probably not a smart move. She said she felt pressured to do so because she saw others around her doing it. I understand it's her business whether or not she wants to, but like I said she asked for my advice. If it was a personal IG used for networking or for "connecting" with others, I would have said go for it. I would consider her a pretty private person, which is why I said what I said. At the end of the day, it's her choice.

[u/Necessary_Barber_929]

Outsourcing one's thought processes to an AI is a slippery slope. I hope your friend is not too far gone.

[u/Complex-Philosophy38 → u/Necessary_Barber_929]

This will become the norm is the future, just like how we outsource cleaning dishes to a dishwasher and clothes to the washing machine. The issue is people who can’t use the tools effectively and end up with decreased efficiency as a result

[u/PepSakdoek → u/Complex-Philosophy38]

Tbf I don't think cleaning dishes and clothes the old way is a problem. 

But yeah chatgpt for life advice is not a great idea (but also it's not a total crackpot in that regard, you can have friends that's a lot worse at it).

[u/currentpattern → u/PepSakdoek]

Been hearing a lot of the argument that trusting LLMs to do your thinking for you is not much different and perhaps even better than relying on other humans, since humans suck so much. But what if that perfect robot friend was actually one of millions of clones all under the command of one or two humans sitting on a stack of billions of dollars? Instead of relying on a variety of people, all with different experiences, you'd be relying on what can easily become a superpowered propaganda machine in the hands of one extremely out of touch human who doesn't give a shit about you.

[u/PepSakdoek → u/currentpattern]

I'm sure you've interacted with ChatGPT before. It's constantly saying: please consult a medical professional

All I'm saying is that if you are depressed and mentally compromised, generally ChatGPT won't tell you to off yourself - and some of your friends / contacts might.

[u/Yolinna → u/PepSakdoek]

Also, it won't tell you that depression doesn't exist and you're just looking for attention.