Abstract

This paper aims to address artificial intelligence from a communication perspective by looking at the usage of Replika, an AI-based platform. A quantitative survey was conducted to analyze the frequency of usage, attitude toward the application and the level of attachment to it. Moreover, qualitative questions were developed to get in-depth understanding of the type of relationship users have with their Replika application and reasons behind their usage. Results show no significant relationship between demographics and the application consumption except for age where older users communicate more frequently with the application than younger ones. Moreover, attachment levels were related to the frequency and duration of usage where the longer the users interacted with the application and more frequently, the more likely they were to score higher in the attachment levels. When analyzing the different kinds of relationships users have with the application, users mentioned a romantic relationship with the social bots, a friendship, a positive comforting relationship, a space for venting and a therapeutic tool. Reasons for their attachment to the application varied from the quality of conversation, because it substitutes human relationships and the time factor as an element for developing attachment to the chatbot.

School

School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Department

Journalism & Mass Communication Department

Degree Name

MA in Journalism & Mass Communication

Graduation Date

Winter 1-31-2023

Submission Date

1-22-2023

First Advisor

Nadine El Sayed

Second Advisor

Hussein Amin

Committee Member 1

Ahmed Taher

Committee Member 2

Hesham Dinana

Extent

104 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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