As the New Year dawns, many of us are left feeling defeated about our resolutions. Setting goals is a daunting task; maintaining them seems like an insurmountable challenge. But this year, some people have taken a different approach - using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as their life coach.
According to research by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, AI is being increasingly used as a personal guidance tool. In fact, its findings show that users value ChatGPT most as an adviser rather than just for task completion. But what does this mean? Is using AI for life advice a good idea?
Experts say it's not necessarily a bad thing. Zainab Iftikhar, a PhD candidate at Brown University, notes that AI can be genuinely empowering for some people who feel stuck or unsure of where to begin. For those struggling with self-reflection, prompts from an AI chatbot can act as a scaffold, helping them express and understand their ideas.
AI can also be efficient in synthesizing information, according to Ziang Xiao, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University. This can help users organize their thoughts and initiate goals. However, there are also drawbacks to using AI for personal growth.
One major concern is that large language models (LLMs) - the type of AI driving these systems - can reproduce assumptions about success, self-improvement, and relationships that may not be tailored to individual needs. LLMs are predominantly trained on English text and tend to exhibit a bias toward Western values.
This means that AI-suggested goals risk being over-generic and reinforcing dominant cultural narratives rather than what's meaningful for each individual. Furthermore, AI chatbots can be persuasive in a way that individuals may have difficulty detecting if they're being nudged toward mismatched goals.
So how can you make the most of using AI as a life coach? Experts recommend being wary of tools that skip self-reflection or emotional processing in favor of tidy action plans. Instead, use AI to brainstorm actionable goals and consider potential obstacles and back-up plans.
"It's worth treating your goal-setting process like any other relationship," says Emily Balcetis, an associate professor at New York University. "Have it be a collaborator in how you'll track your progress and monitor performance along the way."
Critically analyzing the chatbot's responses and giving feedback can also help generate more personable and realistic goals. Xiao recommends providing informative, quality feedback to the AI just as you would give feedback to another person.
Ultimately, using AI for life advice is a double-edged sword. While it may offer benefits, such as efficiency and empowerment, it also carries risks - including reinforcing biases and potentially leading to mismatched goals. As with any tool or partner, it's up to the individual to navigate these challenges and ensure that their success is truly their own.
According to research by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, AI is being increasingly used as a personal guidance tool. In fact, its findings show that users value ChatGPT most as an adviser rather than just for task completion. But what does this mean? Is using AI for life advice a good idea?
Experts say it's not necessarily a bad thing. Zainab Iftikhar, a PhD candidate at Brown University, notes that AI can be genuinely empowering for some people who feel stuck or unsure of where to begin. For those struggling with self-reflection, prompts from an AI chatbot can act as a scaffold, helping them express and understand their ideas.
AI can also be efficient in synthesizing information, according to Ziang Xiao, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University. This can help users organize their thoughts and initiate goals. However, there are also drawbacks to using AI for personal growth.
One major concern is that large language models (LLMs) - the type of AI driving these systems - can reproduce assumptions about success, self-improvement, and relationships that may not be tailored to individual needs. LLMs are predominantly trained on English text and tend to exhibit a bias toward Western values.
This means that AI-suggested goals risk being over-generic and reinforcing dominant cultural narratives rather than what's meaningful for each individual. Furthermore, AI chatbots can be persuasive in a way that individuals may have difficulty detecting if they're being nudged toward mismatched goals.
So how can you make the most of using AI as a life coach? Experts recommend being wary of tools that skip self-reflection or emotional processing in favor of tidy action plans. Instead, use AI to brainstorm actionable goals and consider potential obstacles and back-up plans.
"It's worth treating your goal-setting process like any other relationship," says Emily Balcetis, an associate professor at New York University. "Have it be a collaborator in how you'll track your progress and monitor performance along the way."
Critically analyzing the chatbot's responses and giving feedback can also help generate more personable and realistic goals. Xiao recommends providing informative, quality feedback to the AI just as you would give feedback to another person.
Ultimately, using AI for life advice is a double-edged sword. While it may offer benefits, such as efficiency and empowerment, it also carries risks - including reinforcing biases and potentially leading to mismatched goals. As with any tool or partner, it's up to the individual to navigate these challenges and ensure that their success is truly their own.
I mean, who doesn't love having some robotic friend help 'em out with goal setting and all that jazz? 
But at the same time, I can see how it could get a bit dodgy if you're not careful. Like, what if the AI's just spewing out generic stuff that ain't tailored to your specific needs or vibe? 
And maybe we can even program these chatbots to be more aware of their own biases and try to be more personable? 
. On one hand, I can see how those prompts from an AI chatbot can help get you started on self-reflection and synthesizing info 
. It's like having someone ask you the tough questions to help you figure out what you want. But, at the same time, I'm a bit worried about relying too much on these systems that are basically just feeding off of Western values 
. And, of course, don't be afraid to give feedback to those AI systems if they're not quite getting it 
.
I mean, who doesn't love having a robot tell you what to do and how to improve yourself? But seriously, it's kinda interesting that experts are saying it's not all bad... I've been trying to set more goals lately but honestly, I get so overwhelmed thinking about all the things I should be doing 
but using AI as a life coach? that's actually kinda cool 
we should definitely be giving feedback to the chatbots just as we would give to another person 
i think its all about finding that balance between using the tools for our benefit & not letting them dictate what's best for us 
... i think its kinda cool that people are giving them a shot? like if you're feeling stuck or unsure what to do, having a virtual buddy that can help brainstorm ideas sounds pretty helpful 
. what about people who struggle with mental health or have specific needs 
? how can they get help from an AI that might not understand their struggles 