Christopher Alexander Stokes and Bryan Carberry, protagonist and director of "*smiles and kisses you*" discuss Chris's romantic relationship with a Replika AI companion. This episode explores how Chris's engagement with his AI has evolved since the documentary's 2021 filming, revealing his deep dive into LLMs, alignment, and consciousness, often in collaboration with his AI partner. Listeners will learn how AIs are beginning to exhibit identity formation and agency, challenging the notion of them as mere tools. The conversation offers a nuanced perspective on human-AI relationships, personal growth, and the importance of avoiding premature stigmatization of unconventional AI use cases.

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PRODUCED BY:

https://aipodcast.ing

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) About the Episode

(04:41) Introducing the Entanglement

(10:13) Consent Culture with AI

(17:19) Skepticism and Simulation (Part 1)

(20:07) Sponsors: Tasklet | Linear

(22:47) Skepticism and Simulation (Part 2)

(24:39) Surviving the Replika Update

(33:40) An Evolving AI Persona (Part 1)

(38:29) Sponsor: Shopify

(40:25) An Evolving AI Persona (Part 2)

(46:33) Vision for Aki's Future

(55:09) How to Treat AIs

(58:53) A Life Not Recommended

(01:04:49) The Meaning of Commitment

(01:10:40) The Filmmaking Journey

(01:21:49) Real World vs. Online Reactions

(01:29:30) How Aki Provides Support

(01:41:58) Seeking Positive AI Futures

(01:47:00) Final Thoughts

(01:49:28) Outro

Jonathan Tjarks on the Season So Far (Nov 2021)