Examining AI platforms is very important from a sociological point of view

  (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

From past to present, the gathering of people and the establishment of social relationships have played a fundamental role in shaping societies. The science of sociology, in a sense, facilitates the examination of these relationships and social structures among individuals.Today, with the advent of technology, both the scope and the nature of these relationships have transformed. The advancing digitalization process has not only updated societies but also introduced new forms of relationships. For instance, AI-supported friendship platforms claim to offer a new and different perspective on interpersonal relationships.The sociological impacts of such changes are highly complex and must be approached with a critical lens because, in modern society, individuals' social bonds often form on the basis of geographical proximity and traditional norms. Additionally, globalization and digitalization enable individuals to carry their identities and ways of building relationships into electronic platforms.Globalization and digitalization as well have forced people to reconsider their identities and the ways they build relationships. Especially with the rise of individualism, there is an open-ended framework for people, options also abound in terms of getting to know and like one another. This has, from a sociological perspective, also led to the phenomenon of ‘modern loneliness’, where people detach themselves from collective identities and concentrate more on their desires as individuals.And while AI platforms promise to address this void, they also raise questions about the richness and significance of relationships. When considering the societal impacts of technological development, it is useful to consider the interactions between people and these new tools. By analyzing individual preferences, AI-do powered platforms which use algorithms to assist users in their relationship-building processes, claim to provide recommendations that are "suitable".But from a sociological perspective might have a homogenizing effect on social dynamics. These systems would then concentrate on the commonalities at the exclusion of the diversity of cultural differences and individual experiences. Thus, relationships may become not just the product of individual choice, but algorithmic exchanges rendered within algorithmic patterns.And the reasons people are using AI technologies offer valuable sociological insights too. Of particular note is how the nature of relational quality has been interrogated, especially as the world around us shifts. The breakup of traditional communities and the rise of individualistic ways of life tend to lead people in search of alternatives to deal with loneliness. The obverse of such a loneliness is the perceived gain the usage of AI platforms can bring. But also the danger of social relations being superficial in a digital context. For sociologists, it suggests the need to rethink the idea of community.AI Girlfriend as a specific example to study the influence of digitalization on People AI Girlfriend was identified as one of the prominent AI friendship platforms that can be beneficial for studying the mechanics of AI Apps that use AI to develop social relations with individuals. Such platforms not only deal in users’ private data but also reshape how we build relationships. From a sociological angle, this may prove a deep sea change in how contemporary societies structure their interpersonal transactions. For instance, those platforms introduce the concept of an “ideal partner” to users. But this idea of what is ideal is a fluid idea influenced by social frameworks and cultural considerations. The potential matches created by AI redefine users’ expectations and mediate the very nature of relationships.These platforms' effects are also evident in people's perceptions of identity. The digital "me" is reflected forward, a projection of a successful, aspirational life, so this raises sociological territory about how we frame ourselves and how we want to be framed.But as technology opens up more opportunities for expression of self, sparks new conversations about whether these identities can be true and stable. AI-driven platforms scour digital identities and suggest matches accordingly, but this could increase the chasm between what users are in real life and what they look like in an online world. AI-powered friendship platforms are a quintessential sociological theme, capturing well the modern individual’s relational conundrum. Digitalization brings up both, as it allows for broader social networks, but one may ask whether the quality is as good. As we rely on digital interactions rather than face-to-face ones, we run the risk of being superficially attached to each other and therefore more likely to up and leave one another at a moment's notice. It creates fresh queries about the structure of social ties — and the way people define their roles in society.In conclusion, the sociological impact of AI-powered friendship platforms has prompted individuals to reassess their social relationships. While these platforms aim to offer solutions to issues like loneliness and belonging in modern society, they also spark new discussions about the meaning and depth of relationships. Sociology provides the necessary tools to understand and analyze this transformation, but such analysis must focus not only on the benefits of technology but also on its complex effects on social structures. Positioned at the heart of societal changes, these platforms offer critical insights into the future of human relationships.This article was written in cooperation with AI Girlfriend