Process
Our ideation started with a simple idea that we wanted our project to have the sense of text to data. We started collecting data with the prompt: “What are your worries?”. We gathered 30 anonymous responses , on topics ranging from Relationships - Politics. However, since it was too broad we narrowed it down to 4 main categories:
Following the data collection phase, we engaged in conversations with three chatbots, feeding them the statements we had gathered about people's worries
Proposal, background
As a team, we collaborated relatively effectively throughout the project - each of us played a part in contributing our ideas and voiced out our opinions. We found ourselves collaborating even more simply, as we deepened our understanding of each other’s perspectives and working styles from our term one project. This helped us integrate each other’s strengths into our project.
From the brainstorming phase to the final outcome of our vision, we were engaged and enthusiastic. There were some challenges that we faced during the ideation process. One of the most prominent ones was our tendency to jump into conclusions quickly, which limited our possibilities and explorations in the beginning stage. For this, we had to constantly take a step back and evaluate our options before finalising on one thing, so that we had more room to explore. In terms of technicalities, we struggled to come up with ideas to make our experience fully interactive. For example, our website didn’t allow users to manually type out their worries so we had to settle on having buttons for users to select accordingly as we had explored certain text prompts. To overcome our technical challenges, we made little tweaks like creating bubbles that users can choose from and adapted our layout by also adding a project description so that people are going in with a small idea of what coded comfort is about.
Proposed approach
The approach that guided us was our data collected from our peers.We then inputted these concerns into two separate chatbots to observe the solutions and comfort they provided. Each team member also messaged a friend with the same inputs, this enabled us to draw comparisons between human and AI responses. Surprisingly 8 out of 10 preferred to hear the response that was written by AI.
We analysed and compared the chatbots' answers to discern patterns resembling human responses. As well as patterns that the chatbots used such as repeating the words that you write in the statement and sometimes giving somewhat similar advice.
Our study aimed to shed light on the potential overlaps between AI-generated and human-generated support in addressing common worries, offering valuable insights into the role of AI in emotional and practical problem-solving and how people are turning towards AI for comfort.
Proposed objective
The main objective is to explore the evolving landscape of human interactions with Artificial Intelligence AI, particularly in the context of emotional support and conversational AI. We also want to examine the nuances of human interactions, acknowledging their complexity. At the same time, experimenting the potential of AI to replicate the same depth and imperfections inherent in human comfort.
We were curious about whether AI can understand and provide the kind of comfort that humans do. Can it fill the emotional gap for people who are alone, giving them a sense of warmth and understanding like human connections usually do?
Data collected
We did our data collection in two stages, one being where we acquired responses from our friends with the help of an anonymous box where they could come and write their thoughts and worries. We got a lot of varied responses but they could easily be put into categories.
In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Second was when we used Chatbots and fed them statements to have a conversion with them, to understand what their responses would be like and Break down conversation into Input ,Process (Thinking & Context), Output (Advice).
Artefact
The final artefact is an immersive sensory and visual experience. Consisting Abstract visuals that were made using Touch designer
Initially, we envisioned our documentation booth as an ironic setup, portraying a conversation between two individuals from the outside, while in reality, they were simply interacting with AI to express their worries. With this we wanted to show how humans sometimes don't like interacting with humans about their emotions and are now turning towards ai for solace. But after feedback from our lecturesour idea lacked originality and that the presence of two individuals in the booth conflicted with the project's focus on intimacy.
Taking this into consideration we changed up our booth and used the same materials that were the pin boards in our class, a tall cube , black cloth and some velcro tape. We used that to now create a booth experience where the user goes through the curtain to view an experience. We used headphones for a much more immersive experience. The feedback that we got was that the booth was private and intimate, allowing them to focus on the project without any external distractions. We also got comments like “ The music was well-composed and immersive, and the visuals were very interesting, especially the way the particles moved in sync with the music.""
Conclusion
By leveraging the data of worries we've gathered, and using AI tools like BeatBot and Dream.AI we were able to translate our collective worries into art forms – music and colours, respectively. Our final visual presentation serves as a collective of AI's interpretation of our worries, offering viewers a sense of solace and intimacy within an immersive space. This project has reinforced our observation that people are increasingly turning to AI for comfort and understanding. This change is happening because people are feeling more alone and disconnected from others. AI can listen to our worries without judging us, so it's a safe place to talk about our problems
AI's ability to process vast amounts of data and identify patterns allows it to gain insights into human emotions that may surpass even closest friends and family. This enables AI to provide tailored comfort and support, addressing individual needs and offering personalised solutions from even creating the way your bot looks to even the sound effects. As AI technology continues to evolve, its role in human interaction is bound to expand. Our project serves as a testament to the potential of AI to foster empathy, understanding, and connection. It highlights the transformative power of AI in addressing the emotional needs of individuals and providing a more supportive and compassionate space.