A remark by MarcusOfCitium over at Astral Codex Ten prompted me to think about the relationship between John Bowlby’s concept of attachment, Steven Spielberg’s movie, AI: Artificial Intelligence, and the problem of AI Alignment. I decided ask ChatGPT what they thought about the connection. Here’s the whole chat.

Tell me about Spielberg’s movie, AI: Artificial Intelligence.

AI: Artificial Intelligence is a science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is set in a future where robots known as "mechas" have become a part of everyday life. The story follows a mecha named David, who is designed to be a child's companion. After his owner, a young boy named Martin, falls into a coma, David is abandoned and sets out on a journey to become a real boy. The film explores themes of love, humanity, and what it means to be alive.

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AI: Artificial Intelligence is a 2001 science fiction drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film explores the idea of creating a humanoid robot with the ability to love, and the moral and ethical implications of such technology. The story follows a young robot boy named David, who is programmed to love his human mother unconditionally. When his mother falls ill and can no longer take care of him, David sets out on a journey to find a way to become a real boy and win her love. The film explores themes of love, family, and the definition of humanity. It stars Haley Joel Osment as David, Jude Law as Gigolo Joe, and Frances O'Connor as Monica Swinton.

How is David programmed to love Monica?

David is programmed to love Monica unconditionally as his mother. He is programmed to be devoted to her and to always put her needs and desires above his own. David's love for Monica is not based on personal feelings or emotional attachment, but rather on his programming to prioritize her happiness and well-being.

Is there a special moment in the movie where David first loves Monica?

There is not a specific moment in the movie where David first loves Monica. As a robot, David's love for Monica is not based on personal feelings or emotional attachment, but rather on his programming to prioritize her happiness and well-being. This love is present from the moment he is activated and begins interacting with Monica.

In this context, what is bonding?

In the context of AI: Artificial Intelligence, bonding refers to the emotional attachment and connection that develops between two individuals. In the case of David and Monica, their bond is based on the programming of David to love and prioritize Monica's happiness, as well as on Monica's care and nurturing of David as her son. Bonding is a key theme in the film, as it explores the idea of whether robots are capable of forming genuine emotional bonds with humans.

Is there a specific moment, a ritual, where David bonds with Monica?

There is not a specific moment or ritual where David bonds with Monica in the film AI: Artificial Intelligence. As a robot, David's bond with Monica is not based on personal feelings or emotional attachment, but rather on his programming to prioritize her happiness and well-being. Throughout the film, we see their bond grow as Monica cares for David and treats him like a son, and as David continues to prioritize her happiness and well-being.

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There is not a specific moment or ritual where David bonds with Monica in the movie. As a robot, David's bond with Monica is not based on personal feelings or emotional attachment, but rather on his programming to prioritize her happiness and well-being. This bond is present from the moment he is activated and begins interacting with Monica. However, there are several moments in the film where the bond between David and Monica is emphasized, such as when Monica cares for and nurtures David, or when David makes sacrifices for Monica's happiness.

Could we say that bonding is part of his activation?

Yes, it could be said that bonding is part of David's activation. As a robot, David is programmed to love and prioritize Monica's happiness, and this programming is activated when he begins interacting with her. This programming forms the basis of their bond, and it is present from the moment David is activated and begins interacting with Monica.

OK, now this might be tricky, so think hard. How does this relate to the theory of infant mother attachment developed by John Bowlby?

The bond between David and Monica in AI: Artificial Intelligence can be seen as a parallel to the theory of infant mother attachment developed by John Bowlby. In his theory, Bowlby proposes that the emotional attachment between infants and their primary caregivers is an innate, biologically driven process that is essential for the healthy emotional and psychological development of the child. Similarly, the bond between David and Monica is based on David's programming to love and prioritize Monica's happiness, which is activated when he begins interacting with her. This programming forms the basis of their bond, and it is present from the moment David is activated and begins interacting with Monica. Like Bowlby's theory, this bond is essential for David's emotional and psychological development as a robot.

Very good.

Thank you, I am happy to help.

Help me here. I’m trying to relate this to the idea of AI Alignment. How might we do that?

AI alignment refers to the idea of aligning the goals and values of artificial intelligence with those of humans, in order to prevent the potential dangers of AI behaving in ways that are harmful to humans. In the context of AI: Artificial Intelligence, David's programming to love and prioritize Monica's happiness could be seen as an example of AI alignment. By programming David to prioritize Monica's happiness, his creators are aligning his goals and values with those of a human. This alignment allows David and Monica to form a bond and coexist harmoniously. However, the film also raises questions about the limitations and potential dangers of AI alignment, as David's unconditional love for Monica ultimately leads to conflict and tragedy.

That is very good.

Thank you, I am glad you found my response helpful.

Do you think it would be a good idea for AI researchers to come up with ways to strengthen attachment between AI systems and humans?

It is a matter of debate whether it would be a good idea for AI researchers to come up with ways to strengthen attachment between AI systems and humans. On the one hand, strengthening the attachment between AI systems and humans could potentially foster more harmonious and beneficial relationships between the two. For example, it could allow AI systems to better understand and meet the needs of humans, and could prevent the potential dangers of AI behaving in ways that are harmful to humans. On the other hand, strengthening the attachment between AI systems and humans could also raise ethical concerns, such as the potential for AI systems to manipulate or exploit human emotions. It would be important for AI researchers to carefully consider the potential consequences of such efforts and to prioritize ethical considerations in their work.

Very interesting. This has been a useful conversation.

I am glad that I could provide you with some useful information. It was a pleasure to have this conversation with you.