MIT researchers tap generative AI to let humans chat with their 'future 60-year-old selves'

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Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled an innovative tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate conversations with one’s future self. This pioneering project, known as ‘Future You’, is designed to promote long-term thinking and inspire beneficial behavior changes.

 

The AI-powered chatbot mimics a natural-sounding conversation, utilizing the popular model GPT-3.5 developed by OpenAI. The system creates a “synthetic memory” or a “backstory of the user” by asking study participants a series of questions about their lives, past experiences, and aspirations.

 

This revolutionary technology taps into the concept of ‘future self-continuity’, a behavioral science principle stating that individuals who feel a strong connection between their present and future selves are more likely to make decisions favoring their long-term well-being. The chatbot, which presents the participant with a digitally-aged profile picture of their 60-year-old self, has shown potential in reducing ‘temporal discounting’, a cognitive bias leading people to prioritize immediate rewards over long-term benefits.

 

In a pre-print paper, the MIT team reported that users experienced decreased anxiety and lower negative emotions after conversing with their digital older selves. This suggests that the chatbot could potentially improve well-being and motivate individuals to make wiser choices optimizing their life outcomes.

 

How will this AI tool reshape our perception of the future? Will it lead to a society where people are more inclined to make decisions that favor their long-term well-being? We invite you to share your thoughts on this fascinating development.

 

 

Read more:

• https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/future-you/overview/
• https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.12514
• https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/06/23/researchers-use-ai-to-let-you-chat-with-your-future-self
• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jun/05/ai-researchers-build-future-self-chatbot-to-inspire-wise-life-choices

 

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