What is love? Can we program machines to be in love or to love us back? Ken Sio (UCL Human Sciences BSc) tackles one of humanity’s greatest questions but adds a modern twist: Can generative AI learn to love, or at least, can it make us believe it loves us back?
As Generative AI becomes ubiquitous, the market is rising quickly for ever more sophisticated virtual companions. They promise devoted support, connection, inexhaustible empathy, and sometimes, swirling romance. Algorithms might be able to mimic love. They might be able to do it convincingly. When they do, what does it mean for us to keep asking, “is it real?”
To explore questions of love in the machine, Ken teams up with Sol, a sharp-witted voice from ChatGPT4.0. Together they explore what love means for humans by trying to find it in machines. From neurotransmitters sparking our emotions to Plato’s musings in The Symposium, Ken, Sol, and their human guests unpack how biology, evolution and philosophy shape our understanding of the experience we call “love”. In this moment of rapid invention, what they discover may surprise us all.
****Trigger Warning****
This episode briefly mentions suicide and other sensitive topics. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Contact Samaritans in the UK at 116 123.
Further Resources
- It’s time we rethink how to solve loneliness – BBC Science Focus
- AI friendships claim to cure loneliness. – The Washington Post
- Can Science Capture Love? – The Scientist
Ken completed this episode in December 2024, and it reflects the technology available at the time. This is a project created for the module, HPSC0161 Podcasting as Science Communication, offered by UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
“Can Generative AI Learn to Love Us” Features
Episode producer and creator
- Ken Sio, BSc Human Sciences
www.linkedin.com/in/kensio
Interviewers
- Ken Sio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kensio/ - ‘Sol’ (Powered by ChatGPT-4.0, Advanced Voice Mode)
Interviewees
- Dr Emily Emott, UCL Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/people/emily-emmott - Taylor Enoch, PhD Candidate and Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at UCL
https://www.taylordenoch.com/
Host
- Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).
https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain
Show Producer and Mixer
- Capri Huffman, MSc Science, Technology and Society
Music and sound credits
Music in Ken’s episode
- “soft synth music” by Soul_Serenity_Ambiance,
Pixabay License, available https://pixabay.com/music/ambient-soft-synth-music-242044/ - “Dreamy Piano Atmosphere” by lunaowwwww,
Pixabay License, available
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/dreamy-piano-atmosphere-70694/ - “Tranquil and Deep Soundscape” by Nancy_Sinclair,
License: Creative Commons 0, available https://freesound.org/s/750214/ - “Background music of uncertainty” by Destructo20,
License: Creative Commons 0, available https://freesound.org/s/774883/ - “Times” by Bigvegie,
License: Creative Commons 0, available https://freesound.org/s/560599/ - “VibraChordStretch.wav” by Bigvegie,
License: Creative Commons 0, available https://freesound.org/s/674320/ - “Video Game SFX Positive Action Long Tail” by djlprojects,
License: Attribution 4.0, available https://freesound.org/s/413629/ - “single dog bark 1” by crazymonke9,
License: Attribution 4.0, available https://freesound.org/s/418107/ - “big crowd a little laughter 2.wav” by Kyster,
License: Attribution 4.0, available https://freesound.org/s/124024/
Intro and Outro Music
- “Rollin at 5,” by Kevin MacLeod
available: https://incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Break Music
- “Laconic Granny,” by Kevin Macleod
available: https://incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
About WeAreSTS
WeAreSTS is a production of UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). For more information, visit:
https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast
Visit our episode library:
https://profjoecain.net/we-are-sts/