Protections needed to stop people believing chatbots are friends – expert

Alexander Laffer said there needs to be responsible development of AI as systems have been created to respond to the capacity of humans for empathy

An expert warned that chatbots should be designed to ‘augment’ social interactions. Picture: Alamy/PA

A media expert has warned that new protections are needed for artificial intelligence (AI) services because users can be tricked into believing chatbots are their friends.

Alexander Laffer, a lecturer in media and communications at the University of Winchester, said there needs to be responsible development of AI as systems have been created to respond to the capacity of humans for empathy.