Meet My FrAInd: Social AI and the Necessary Requirements for Friendship

Abstract

This thesis probes what it means to have a genuine friendship in an age where people are increasingly using AI chatbots for social purposes. I first establish core characteristics of friendship based on existing leading accounts of friendship, and I compare friendship to other relationships, namely companionship and acquaintanceship. I then introduce the term frAIndship, or a social relationship with an AI chatbot. After reviewing existing accounts of frAIndship, I argue that what distinguishes friendship from frAIndship is sentience, something largely overlooked in the existing literature. Sentience in both parties is necessary for friendship. With sentience as a foundational building block, I build a chain of necessary requirements for friendship. Finally, I briefly examine the impact of frAIndship in society today.