Emotional. Intelligent. Artificial.
In Philip K. Dick's 1968 science fiction novella, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, empathy tests separate man from droid in 2021. But the tests have become easier to pass, androids demonstrating characteristics indistinguishable from humans. Today, in real life, boys, girls and emotionally at risk adults are developing relationships with artificially intelligent characters online and in person. Serious risks abound. This episode, my interview with Dr. Raffaele Ciriello, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at the University of Sydney, is dedicated to the memory of Sewell Setzer III. Sewell was 14 when he took his life in early 2024 after developing a relationship with an emotionally intelligent chatbot. His story is a tragic one. Fiction has become reality. Here's what we can do about it.
About Our Guest, Dr. Raffaele F. Ciriello: As a tenured Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at The University of Sydney Business School, Dr. Ciriello specialize in compassionate digital innovation, focusing on decentralized governance and ethical/societal implications of emerging digital technologies (blockchain, web3, AI, social media). Dr. Ciriello is deeply committed to mentorship, having guided dozens of research students across several countries and actively contributed to the academic community as a reviewer and editor, recognized with teaching awards, Best AE Awards and as a Distinguished Member of the Association for Information Systems. Dr. Ciriello's research appears regularly in leading journals and conferences. He lives in Sydney with his wonderful wife and two mad scientists.