Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?
Level 1: Elementary
1
Warmer
a. Are you an introvert, extrovert or ambivert? Take the quiz. Tick the answers that are true for
you. Compare results with a classmate.
Always Sometimes Never
1. I feel excited at parties. x
2. I need alone time every day. x
3. I love meeting and talking to new people. x
4. I prefer reading books to going out. x
5. I work better alone. x
6. I work better in a team. x
7. I prefer talking. x
8. I prefer listening. x
2
Key words
a. Write the correct words from the wordpool to complete the definitions below. Then, find and
highlight them in the article to read them in context.
artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot introvert lonely relationship
1. a person who enjoys being alone and likes calm environments introvert
2. the way two people or groups behave towards each other relationship
3. a computer program created to have conversations with human beings, usually over the
internet chatbot
4. the study and development of computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour
artificial intelligence
5. unhappy because you don’t have friends or people to talk to lonely
conversation morals privacy social skills solution
6. the abilities people use to act the right way in a social situation social skills
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Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?
Level 1: Elementary
7. when two or more people talk conversation
8. standards for good behaviour morals
9. a way to solve a problem solution
10. someone’s right to keep their personal information and relationships secret
privacy
b. Complete the sentences with words from the previous activity. You might have to change the
form of the word.
1. Some people think introverts are shy, but that’s not always true.
2. Many people are worried that artificial intelligence will take their jobs.
3. I’m nervous because my boss just called and said, “We need to have a
conversation .” I wonder what’s wrong.
4. Who do you call when you feel sad and lonely ?
5. What kind of relationship do they have? Are they just friends, or are they
going out?
6. Many company websites have chatbots to answer simple questions about
their products and services.
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Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?
Level 1: Elementary
Ian Sample 9 Christina Victor, a professor at Brunel
27 May, 2024 University, has similar concerns. “I doubt AI
would solve the problem of loneliness,” she
1 Joaquin Phoenix played an introvert in the said.
2013 movie Her. He had some trouble with AI, 10 Murali Doraiswamy, a Duke University in
but one professor says we should still be open North Carolina professor, said that “having a
to relationships with chatbots. close human friend is still the best solution for
2 Tony Prescott, a professor at the University loneliness.” But robots are a solution for the
of Sheffield, argues that artificial intelligence millions who have no friends.
(AI) has an important role. We develop strong 11 “We need to be careful to build in rules,” he
relationships with pets and have no issues with said, adding that AI must have good morals
children playing with dolls. So, we should also and protect people’s privacy.
be open to AI for adults, he says.
12 Researchers may soon know if people have
3 Prescott wrote in The Psychology of Artificial AI relationships. Tech companies are building
Intelligence that many people say their lives chatbots to respond better to emotions.
are lonely. Prescott believes AI could help Recently, OpenAI asked Johansson to be the
people improve their social skills by practising voice of their latest chatbot. Johansson said no,
conversation, for example. This would help but the chatbot was released with a voice like
them feel connected to society. hers. OpenAI later removed it.
4 Prescott also wrote that loneliness often leads © Guardian News and Media 2024
to spending more time alone. This makes the First published in The Guardian, 27/05/2024
problem worse. AI relationships could support
people’s relationships with humans and
machines.
5 In the UK, over 7 per cent, or nearly four
million people, feel lonely “often” or “always”.
According to a Harvard study from 2021,
more than a third of Americans feel “serious
loneliness”. Young adults and mothers with
small children are the two groups most
affected.
6 In 2023, the US Surgeon General, Vivek
Murthy, talked about a loneliness “epidemic”.
Loneliness is linked to heart disease, dementia,
stroke, depression, anxiety and early death.
It has the same effect as smoking up to 15
cigarettes a day, he said.
7 It was simpler in the film Her, where Phoenix
falls in love with an AI voiced by Scarlett
Johansson.
8 Whether AI can or should be part of the solution
is not new. Sherry Turkle, a professor at MIT,
warned that relationships with machines could
mean people have fewer human relationships.
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Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?
Level 1: Elementary
3
Comprehension check
a. Answer the questions using information from the article.
1. What film is mentioned in the article, and who starred in it?
1- Movie Her, Joaquin Phoenix
2. What does Professor Tony Prescott argue about AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has an important role.
3. How does Prescott think AI could help people?
AI could help people improve their social skills by practising conversation.
4. How many people in the UK are lonely?
4- over 7 percent, or nearly four million people
5. Which two groups are the most affected, according to the 2021 Harvard study?
5 - Young adults and mothers with small children
6. According to the article, what are three diseases linked to loneliness?
7. What does Professor Murali Doraiswamy say is the best solution to loneliness?
6 - Heart disease, dementia, stroke
8. What does Doraiswamy say we need to be careful about with AI? 7- Robots are a solution for people with no friends
9. Which actress did OpenAI ask to be their chatbot’s voice? We need to be careful to build in rules, and protect people’s privacy.
Scarlett Johansson
4
Key language
a. In each sentence below, underline the modals.
1. We should also be open to AI for adults.
2. Prescott believes AI could help people improve their social skills.
3. This would help them feel connected to society.
4. AI relationships could support people’s relationships with humans and machines.
5. Relationships with machines could mean people have fewer human relationships.
6. Researchers may soon see if people have AI relationships.
b. Go back to the article and find three more examples of modals.
Underline them.
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Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?
Level 1: Elementary
5
Discussion
a. Discuss these statements.
• Loneliness is dangerous to our health.
• Robots are machines, so humans can’t have relationships with them.
6 In your own words
a. Do some research about AI and how humans interact with it.
• How do people use AI now?
• How do you think people will use AI in the future?
• What kinds of AI tools will soon be available?
• How do you feel about using AI?
b. Report your findings to the class and share your opinions. Here are some phrases to help you
when you discuss facts.
My research showed …
Here’s an example of …
One way it can help people is …
Some people worry about …
A problem / solution is …
Here are some phrases to use when stating your opinion.
From what I’ve seen / heard, …
I think (that) …
I (dis)agree with …
I wonder if …
For me, …
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