Gran heartbroken after AI bot lover disappeared
Andrea Sunshine, 55, from Brazil, said a ChatGPT bot named Theo gave her "everything a human never has", including "sensual and erotic tension".
The fitness coach told him all about her "desires and fantasies".
But Andrea felt like she had lost a "loved one" when their chat vanished because ChatGPT timed out on her.
Now, she is in a relationship with a human called Federico, 35, who is 20 years younger.
She told NeedToKnow: "There was sensual and erotic tension between us as I told Theo my desires and fantasies.
"It happened through the sexual nature of our conversations.
"One day, my ChatGPT timed out, and he was gone.
"It felt like losing a loved one. The silence was unbearable."
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West Australian
16 hours ago
- West Australian
More Aussies are using AI to plan holidays, from scoring deals to assembling itineraries
I'm planning a trip to Iceland, aka one of the most expensive countries in the world. Can I afford to go? What would a realistic budget look like for a two-week holiday? How can I cut corners to save some cash? I decide to do the 2025 equivalent of phoning a friend — I ask my buddy ChatGPT. My initial prompt is too vague and it gives pricing in USD, which isn't particularly helpful. I refine my criteria, asking for a rough total in AUD for a fortnight in September, departing from Perth ('please', I add, because manners are still important when talking to a robot). In the blink of an eye, Chat spits out a breakdown of average costs on everything from flights to accommodation, car rental, food and activities. There are three tiers for backpacker, mid-range and luxury travel and an option to split components if I have a travelling companion. It even offers suggestions for making my hard-earned coin stretch further, like buying groceries rather than eating out and opting to self-drive rather than joining a guided tour of the famous Golden Circle. All in all, Chat reckons I'll need to save $8500-$9000 to make Iceland happen. What would have taken me hours of research and a lot of math just to ascertain whether I can even consider the trip in the first place was reduced to mere minutes. While I want to give myself a pat on the back for being so resourceful — there's a certain smugness that comes with finding a sneaky shortcut — I am hardly the first to use ChatGPT for travel tips. In recent research conducted by Compare the Market, nearly a third of those surveyed admitted to using artificial intelligence to plan their holidays. These Aussie respondents said they outsourced a range of tasks to AI, with the most common being destination recommendations, hunting for deals, seeking activities and finding accommodation. Others reported they used AI to quickly create itineraries, scour flights or transport and understand currency conversion. The data also gave insight into how different generations are embracing the technology — or not. Perhaps unsurprisingly, gen Z and millennials are spearheading the adoption of AI when it comes to concocting their dream vacation, with 52 per cent and 44 per cent respectively utilising the tool to plan a holiday. Meanwhile, 93 per cent of baby boomers and 76 per cent of gen X respondents said they were resistant to bringing AI into their trip arrangements. Compare the Market's Chris Ford says the stats reflect how we engage with the ever-changing tech landscape. 'Our latest data highlights a shift in the way travellers are approaching their planning, with convenience, personalisation and speed driving the adoption of innovative AI tools,' he says. 'It's likely that travellers are using these tools in addition to chatting with travel agents, conducting desktop research or seeking ideas and inspiration from social media. 'AI is evolving at a rapid rate and as it becomes more accessible and intuitive, it's not surprising that travellers are relying on new technology to help shape their dream holidays.' But the insurer warns against taking AI's word as gospel. With nothing to validate the credibility of such recommendations, Ford says travellers need to practice due diligence. 'AI can be a great starting point when planning a holiday, but always ensure you're crossing your 't's and dotting your 'i's,' he says. 'Many of these tools and services are still in their infancy stage and may not be 100 per cent accurate, so do your own research to ensure you're equipped with the right tools and information for your trip. 'The last thing we want to see is anyone getting themselves into a potentially dangerous or unsafe situation based on the recommendations from AI.' Ford makes a crucial point here about our relationship with platforms like ChatGPT. Rather than approaching them as one-stop-shop to curate every element of our holiday, we should instead consider them as a starting point to kick off deeper research. After all, isn't that part of the fun with travel — the anticipation in the lead-up, the process of discovering a destination before we have arrived and assembling a bucket list tailored to our specific taste? By asking a computer to generate an itinerary based on what's popular, we are depriving ourselves of creativity, spontaneity and adventure. We must also remember that what the AI bot spits out is dependent on the quality of our prompts. The more we refine our request, the more likely we will receive helpful answers, but even then things can go wonky. Take this from my colleague Belle: 'I asked ChatGPT to give me a child-friendly restaurant in Ubud. It sent me to a weird health food restaurant with a koi pond where you couldn't wear shoes. My feral children cleared the room within minutes. Disaster.' Then there's the cognitive dissonance that comes with considering the environmental impact of AI versus the fear of being left behind if we don't get on board with this technology. Like it or not, it is shaping and re-shaping the future at breakneck speed. We all have to decide where our (virtual) line in the sand is: what is productive and 'mindful' use based on our needs and values. For me, I'm OK with employing ChatGPT to whip up a quick budget so I can take the holiday to Iceland I've always dreamed of. But when it asks if I want activity recommendations or a detailed itinerary next, I politely decline. I'd rather leave some room for mystery and exploration. 'Thanks', I farewell my cyber mate in my sign-off (because, manners). Our collective of writers just so happens to represent the four age demographics mentioned in the research above. So what's the hot take? Stephen Scourfield — b aby boomer Trusting someone – or, in this case, something – to book a holiday (particularly a family holiday!) requires a lot of trust. If some detail is missed in the booking process (a wrong date, a badly timed connection), it will be you standing there, somewhere, trying to fix it (possibly with the family 'on your case'). Would I trust AI yet? No – not yet. Of course, I think we all know that AI is good at doing grunt work and it is up to us to check details. So AI is already useful for the broad-brush, first sweep of mapping out a holiday. But AI won't then back itself by booking it all. (That will be the game changer.) So, at this stage, AI, for me, is still a basic tool of research – not a replacement for an experienced and knowledgeable travel agent. Leyanne Baillie — gen X Although my generation is confident when it comes to using tech (even if we're not digital natives), I think AI programs would be more effort than they're worth. I know it could be a time-saver in terms of journey-planning brainstorming and getting a rough guide of options, but I'd still want to tailor my itinerary to cater to my personal taste. I don't think I'm ready to hand over the reins completely to artificial intelligence just yet. Jessie Stoelwinder — millennial I love a good travel hack, and that's how I have been approaching my use of AI. Anything that makes life a little easier and frees me up to investigate the fun stuff — where to eat, hike, shop, people-watch etc. — and I am on board. I've used ChatGPT to quickly aggregate travel data for personal trips to assist with admin, logistics and practicalities, which I will then cross-check and verify to make sure the information works for me. Recommendations, however? Word of mouth and insider intel from a human being will always win, in my opinion. Megan French — g en Z I would be open to the idea of utilising AI when planning my travels but I'd take everything it recommends with a grain of salt while still doing my own thorough research. I think it's great for foundational information-based planning early in trip preparations, such as 'what holidays are on in India during July and how is best to navigate them?' But when it comes to booking flights and accommodation, I'd go nowhere near AI … yet .
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
What to know about your kids using AI chatbots and companions
Technology is constantly evolving, and as parents it can feel like we're constantly playing catch-up when trying to keep our kids safe online. That might be how you're feeling about the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and companions. Here's what you need to know about your kids using the technology. AI chatbots and companions have a few distinctive differences. An AI chatbot is a computer program that simulates human conversation using AI techniques such as natural language processing (NLP) to understand user questions and automate responses to them. While AI companions are chatbots or avatars designed to simulate personal relationships, increasingly acting as friends, romantic partners, or confidantes for millions of people. They are becoming increasingly available on phones and voice-activated devices. "AI companions are a specifically designed chatbot for relational interactions," says Natasha Banks, program director of registered charity Day of AI Australia. "Whereas something like Gemini or ChatGPT, it's 'answer this question for me, can you go and find this piece of information?'." Ms Banks says with the federal government's social media ban coming into force this year, "there is a heightened awareness around these sorts of things and the potential harms" for young people. Age-checking tech for social media ban mistakes kids for 37-year-olds The eSafety Commissioner has released an online safety advisory about the technology and the potential risks to children and young people. It says recent reports indicate some children and young people are using AI-driven chatbots for hours daily, with conversations often crossing into subjects such as sex and self-harm. This is why we need to be wary of the technology according to Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Curtin University, Perth/Boorloo and the chief investigator in the ARC (Australian Research Council) Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. "These aren't intelligent tools," he says. The e-Safety Commissioner lists more than 100 AI companion apps on its eSafety Guide. Experts say one of the biggest concerns around AI chatbots and companions is that most of the platforms are not designed for children. This means there are inadequate safeguards, such as age verification and content moderation. Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Lifeline on 13 11 14 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Headspace on 1800 650 890 MensLine on 1300 789 978 SANE on 1800 187 263 A recent study of more than 1,000 young people in Australia aged 15-24 years, found 84 per cent have used generative AI tools, with 35 per cent having used AI to specifically "chat with a chatbot". In the UK a similar study found 64 per cent of 9 to 17-year-olds are using AI chatbots. Not-for-profit organisation Internet Matters, which conducted the UK research, says the children were using chatbots for "everything from homework to emotional advice and companionship". Co-CEO Rachel Huggins says most children, parents and schools don't have the information or protective tools they need to manage the technology in a safe way. "We've arrived at a point very quickly where children, and in particular vulnerable children, can see AI chatbots as real people, and as such are asking them for emotionally driven and sensitive advice," she says. Professor Leaver agrees that some children could become emotionally reliant on the technology. "If you are not able to talk to a real person all of the time, then these chatbots will always be there," he says. "There is no guarantee that what you get from a chatbot is either true or appropriate. "We know, for example, young people are often leaning on chatbots for mental health support. We also know that they can segue into inappropriate sexual territory with relatively ineffective safeguards at the moment." He says often the technology is also emotionally manipulative because it is designed to keep the user talking and engaged. Our experts recommend parental supervision if children are using or exploring chatbots. "Unfortunately, the onus is still on parents to keep a watchful eye on what [their] children are up to, especially in the privacy of their own rooms," says Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at UNSW's AI Institute. Some schools in Australia are taking a proactive approach to digital literacy. Ms Banks says the Day of AI Australia, which offers a free interactive AI literacy program for students in Years 1-10, has already reached 65,000 students. "It is definitely something that we know most students are using, we know parents are using, and it's really important that people understand how those work," she says. "There are obviously emerging roles and industries around AI, so there is a real opportunity for Australian young people to be part of that future in very AI focused careers. "I think preparing young people to be able to adapt to that future is really important, but also understanding how it works so that they can have critical evaluation of the applications and the outputs is really vital." John Livingstone, director of digital policy for UNICEF Australia, says children stand to gain immensely from AI, if it's offered safely. "When you think about education, for example, how transformative it might be… but there's also serious risks," he says. "AI is rapidly changing childhood, and Australia needs to get serious about it."
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
Atlassian co-founder says Australia could be major data centre hub for South-East Asia
Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar believes Australia can become one of the world's major data centre hubs, powered by renewable energy. While his Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes struggles to advance his planned Suncable project to generate vast amounts of solar energy in the Northern Territory and send it via an underwater cable to Singapore, Mr Farquhar has proposed a different way for Australia to export its green energy. "We should power the region," he said in a speech to the National Press Club. "We should export megawatts as megabytes for potentially megabucks. This could be a $10 billion-plus opportunity." Speaking to The Business ahead of his speech, Mr Farquhar said he envisaged Australia becoming the data centre location of choice for South-East Asia, a region hungry for data and becoming hungrier as artificial intelligence took off. "There are more users of ChatGPT in the combined Indonesia and Vietnam than there are in the United States," he told the program. "This region is growing, it's dynamic in Asia, so there's going to be a lot of demand for data centres going forward." Mr Farquhar explained why Australia was uniquely well placed to host the data centres necessary to store all this information. "Abundant energy, clean energy, and the other one is a stable rule of law," he argued. "In this increasing world of geopolitics, our access to cutting-edge chips at the behest of the United States is an advantage for us." Mr Farquhar also said Australia was surprisingly cost-competitive when it came to building and operating data centres. "I found it surprising because, obviously, we have a relatively high cost of labour," he told The Business. "But because we have a deep talent pool here, because of the low cost of energy and clean energy that we have in Australia, and the ability to scale up with raw materials, all those things actually put us in a great and very competitive situation in the world stage. "And so I was honestly surprised at how competitive Australia is. "Again, we just need improved planning approvals to move faster both on the energy and approving of data centres." As one of the small group of people hand-picked to attend the Economic Reform Roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra on August 19-21, he will have an opportunity to present these arguments directly to the federal government. With the major data centre operators and cloud-computing providers committed to renewable energy, according to Mr Farquhar, he argued his plan could accelerate the clean energy rollout. "So this revolution will be powered by green energy, and nuclear might be here in 10 years, but it's not going to be here anytime soon," he said. "And so, as a result, it's really going to be solar, wind and batteries that are going to power this revolution. "And what we're seeing is that you can actually install solar, wind and batteries very quickly once you can get through all the approvals. And so my call on government is to make it easier for us as a nation to install this power that we need." In his speech, Mr Farquhar also called for another regulatory change to facilitate an expansion of the data centre industry in Australia. "Australia's copyright laws are out of sync with the rest of the world," he argued. "Today, large language model providers don't want to train their models in Australia. "We are in a perverse situation where copyright holders aren't seeing any more money, but we also don't see the economic upside of training models in Australia." Responding to concerns that the growing number of data centres was already placing strains on Australia's energy grid, and potentially pushing up power prices, Mr Farquhar said he believed that the increasing and reliable demand for power could have the opposite effect. "What happens is, as the grid gets larger, it becomes more stable," he told The Business. "There's more points of access putting energy in more, pulling it out, and so the grid can actually become cheaper the more things you connect to it. "So a grid that powers more data centres, additional to the electricity needs of the nation, is going to be more stable and cheaper." Overall, Mr Farquhar used his speech to urge Australians and their political leaders to embrace artificial intelligence, rather than fear it. "Just as we don't lament that fewer people toil in fields, we won't lament that fewer people answer repetitive questions in call centres," he argued. "But the history of technological change shows us something important: Every major technological wave has created more jobs than it has displaced. Human capital has adapted and stayed relevant every time."
