445: Can you fall in love with AI?

The boys drink and review Troegs Graffiti Highway IPA, then discuss the movie "Her" and the idea of having a romantic, emotional relationship with AI. "Her" was made in 2013, but many of the concepts are still applicable today -- even more than they were in 2013! Joaquin Phoenix plays the lead character (Theodore Twombly), who decides to use a new AI-powered operating system, which allows him to organize his life, but also becomes a daily companion and confidante. The AI (Samantha) becomes part of his life, and he slowly falls in love with her/it -- and, if you can believe it, she/it with him. The movie challenges our concepts of love and personality at a fundamental level. Eventually, Theodore finds out that Samantha (the AI) is having a similar relationship with 8,000 other people. He's heartbroken, because one element of human love is exclusive. The movie is worth watching, but P&C evaluate how the insights from "Her" apply to modern technology, and where we seem to be going with sexbots and AI agents and so on. Ex Machina is another film that addresses some of the same themes. So ... Can you fall in love with AI? You'd better watch out, because yes, you can.