Why is Technoanimism the Biggest Threat to Humanity?

OpenAI recently announced GPT-4o, a more advanced AI model that bears an uncanny resemblance to the AI depicted in the movie HER. But what does this really mean for people like you and me?

If you’re reading this, you are likely already aware of the rise of anthropomorphized¹ chatbots. Companies like Replika, MyShell, and character.ai have been trying to monopolize the digital companionship market for a few years now. DiD, Synthesia, and HeyGen have attempted the same for the digital twins and video generation market. Hanson Robotics, Engineered Arts, Cartwheel Robotics, and Disney are anthropomorphizing robots.

However, the latest OpenAI update has teleported us to a post-humanistic world.

Technoanimism² is one of the central themes in posthumanism³ and AI ethics. It is the attribution of human-like qualities to technological entities. For example, making a robot look like a human in the case of Sophia The Robot, adding "ahhs" and "umms" in GPT-4o to make it sound like a human, or making a chatbot pretend as if it has emotions in the case of Replika.

The Human Tendency to Anthropomorphize

Humans anthropomorphize everything due to a combination of psychological tendencies, cultural practices, and evolutionary adaptations. We have an innate tendency to attribute human characteristics to gods, animals, inanimate objects, and even abstract concepts. But why?

Psychologically, cognitive heuristics allow us to make sense of the world. Anthropomorphism simplifies the complex by making unfamiliar things more relatable.

Culturally, ancient myths across religions often describe deities with human traits, behaviors, and emotions, making complex ideas more accessible and relatable. Language, storytelling, and media have also contributed to this.

Biologically, humans have evolved to understand and predict social interactions to interpret the actions of non-human entities. Anthropomorphism thus acted as a survival mechanism to better understand our surroundings.

Similarly, the goal of technoanimism is to imbue any technology with an emotional appeal to build a deeper connection with humans.

The Dual-Edged Sword of Technoanimism

But isn’t that good for the adoption of any technology? Yes, it helps! The soft toy market size currently stands at US$ 10.2 billion and is projected to grow at a 6.9% CAGR (compound annual growth rate). Imagine how that can translate to tech, where exponential growth spurts on a regular basis.

However, is technoanimism good for society? Maybe, maybe not!

In 1970, Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori proposed the theory of the uncanny valley. It refers to the unsettling feeling people experience when encountering a humanoid object that closely resembles a human being but is slightly off. However, the recent rise of deepfakes and hyper-realistic image/video generation tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and SORA has led to blurred lines between the real and the artificial.

How one perceives the threats and benefits of technoanimism remains subjective. It depends on their social context and the values they respect or live by.

Technoanimism: Threats to Humanity

The unchecked rise of technoanimism poses significant threats to humanity, including:

1. Mass Hysteria: Fear of a robot takeover can lead to widespread panic and mistrust of technology.

2. Public Health Crisis: Technology as a solution to loneliness, such as digital girlfriends, can exacerbate social isolation.

3. Educational Decline: Reliance on AI for learning can hinder basic skills development.

4. Disinformation: The blurring line between humans and machines can lead to misinformation and a "hall of mirrors" effect.

5. Consumer Manipulation: Using anthropomorphism to drive unnecessary purchases raises questions about the ethics of neuromarketing.

Technoanimism can severely impact our ability to make objective decisions. It can also lead to distorted human relationships, misguided emotional investments, and potential public health crises.

Benefits of Technoanimism

However, on the upside, it can also become the biggest lever for progress. It offers potential benefits:

1. Medical Assistance: Human-like robots can make medical environments less intimidating.

2. Educational Tools: Interactive technologies can engage young learners effectively. They can simulate real-life scenarios and provide feedback to improve skills. They can also become tools of cultural preservation.

3. Technology Adoption: Anthropomorphized technology can facilitate broader acceptance and integration of new technologies.

4. Market Differentiation: Companies that incorporate anthropomorphized technology into their products can stand out in the market, offering unique and engaging experiences.

5. Deeper Understanding of Human Behavior: More intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that mimic human behavior can become data-ingestion engines to understand human behavior and communication patterns.

These use cases can be applied across almost any industry.

It remains indisputable that technoanimism is not going anywhere anytime soon. So how can we ensure we are enabling a responsible and optimal use of this storytelling tool from a business and societal perspective?

Framework for Responsible Use of Technoanimism

To mitigate the risks, a framework for the responsible use of technoanimism is necessary. This includes:

1. Purpose Assessment: Clearly defining marketing and business goals for which you plan to leverage technoanimism.

2. Ethical Considerations: Ensuring benefits extend beyond individual gain as per Kant’s theory of the highest good.

3. ROI Evaluation: Assessing the return on investment to be made to anthropomorphize your offering.

4. Brand Impact: Considering how anthropomorphized entities will affect your brand perception.

5. Sustainability: Ensuring long-term viability and trust in the anthropomorphized entity.

6. Contingency Planning: Preparing for potential backfires and misinformation issues.

Most importantly, technoanimism is often an attempt to replicate human behavior via technology. But the bigger question remains: Should we also replicate the consequences of human behavior for technoanimism? Is technoanimism limited to replicating human behavior, or its consequences too? How far can we go in the pursuit of creating an artificial familiarity with technology?

Conclusion

Technoanimism accelerates anthropocentrism⁴ , which is neither healthy nor sustainable but is very natural. So how do we balance our innate tendency to anthropomorphize with the need to maintain objective and ethical interactions with technology? The stories we tell ourselves about technology will become our future. So, how do we ensure that technoanimism doesn't lead to the erosion of trust in society?

The truth is, there are no easy answers. However, the pursuit of finding the answer is worth all the hardships.

End Notes:

1. Anthropomorphism: Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics, emotions, and behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, gods, or concepts.

2. Technoanimism: Technoanimism is attributing human-like qualities and behaviors to technology, such as robots and AI. This makes machines seem more relatable and engaging.

3. Posthumanism: Posthumanism is a philosophical perspective that challenges traditional human-centered thinking, exploring how advanced technology and AI transform human identity, culture, and society. It redefines what it means to be human in a technologically enhanced world.

4. Anthropocentrism: Anthropocentrism is the belief that humans are the most important entities in the world, prioritizing human life and experiences over those of other species and ecosystems.