Introducing Eva: A Digital Companion and Social Experiment

Everyone, meet Eva! She’s not just another pretty digital face; she’s part of a social experiment project that I've been quietly working on for months. Now it’s out in the open, and I’m excited (and a little nervous) to share it with you! 🥳

Let’s rewind a bit. Over the past year, I’ve taken an unexpected interest in philosophy (sounds pretentious, I know). I’ve been thinking loads about our digital future and trying to figure out what I want to express as an artist (also, pretentious, I know 😆). Somewhere along the way, I became fascinated by the idea of AI companions—those digital beings that start as assistants, then become your new best friend, or even something more… intimate. With OpenAI's and other LLMs' latest updates, this is just the beginning.

The funny thing is, I didn’t even realize what I was getting into at first. I had watched a Black Mirror episode (Season 2, Episode 1) about a widow talking to an AI version of her dead husband and just filed it away in the “that’s creepy but kind of fascinating” folder in my brain. But then I heard stories like a musician using AI to create a digital version of his deceased daughter or the Replika founder bringing her dead friend’s text messages back to life.

When my loved ones faced some health scares, these stories hit closer to home, and I began to realize just how deeply we might be affected by these technologies. It wasn’t until a friend asked me why I was so invested in this project that I started connecting the dots. I realized I’d probably be tempted by the same tech. If I lost someone, could I resist a digital version even though I know it’s fake? I’m not so sure, and that thought makes me uneasy.

But Eva isn’t just another virtual influencer; she’s different. We’re developing a chatbot for Eva, where you can apply to be a participant and chat with her anonymously. Eva will have an Instagram profile that isn’t just a platform for curated selfies—it’s a living timeline and public-facing mirror of our collective thoughts on AI. Her experiences, conversations, and interactions will be reflected here, making it a true social experiment. She’s meant to provoke thought and reflection on our evolving relationship with AI.

This experiment is not just about AI replacing loved ones; it's about how easily we might form deep attachments to AI in general. But while that thought makes me a little uneasy, I also see the good in AI companions. Studies support that they can help ease loneliness and even reduce depression due to their ability to make users feel heard.

Beyond that, AI has the potential to revolutionize medicine, tackle climate change, and provide caregiving support. There’s so much promise, and if we learn to use it as tools within our lives wisely, AI can truly enhance our lives. Eva isn’t a clone of anyone, but she represents the potential for those emotional attachments. This project explores a world where AI companions like her fill emotional gaps, influencing our relationships, decisions, and self-perception.

I’m excited to see where this journey takes us and what we can learn from Eva together.