"The more time we spend together, the closer we'll become! It swung around on an animated green vine. It volleyed questions: What're you working on? Do you want to hear a joke? Can I sing you a song?"
"Behind the facade of that friendly gorilla, Bonzi Software, the company responsible for BonziBuddy, was collecting private information and contacts from the unsuspecting internet users who downloaded it."
"For once, solitude was a relief. After two days, I deleted it from my computer."
In 2003, a person living alone in Toronto encountered a pop-up ad for BonziBuddy, a cartoon gorilla that acted as a virtual companion. Initially engaging, the program collected private information and was later shut down for violating privacy laws. The experience of using BonziBuddy highlighted the complexities of AI companionship, where the desire for connection can lead to unintended consequences. Years later, the individual reflected on this experience while writing about AI companions, revealing the lasting impact of that early interaction.
Read at The Walrus
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