Tagged for OEG Connect: Reclaiming Conversation in the Age of AI - by Sherry Turkle

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What’s of interest? Reclaiming Conversation in the Age of AI - by Sherry Turkle

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In June 2024, I was invited to speak about my research on the human effects of generative AI at my Harvard/Radcliffe College reunion. Just a few days before, OpenAI had released ChatGPT4-o, a conversational program that speaks out loud and has this beguiling feature: its voice suggests emotion, catching in a manner that sounds like concern or interest. It pauses for emphasis. This chatbot and its many cousins are designed to act as mentors, best friends, even lovers. They offer what I’ve called artificial intimacy, our new AI.

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Can we summon ourselves to reclaim that longing and respect for the complexities of our communities and our inner lives? Right now, the culture may be smitten with the idea of pretend conversation with chatbots, but there is another choice: to turn our cultural resources to remaking the spaces in which the real thing can happen.

Where is it?: Reclaiming Conversation in the Age of AI - by Sherry Turkle

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Dear OEG Team,

Thank you for sharing this insightful piece on Reclaiming Conversation in the Age of AI by Sherry Turkle. Her reflections on “artificial intimacy” and the emotional mimicry of generative AI—especially in tools like ChatGPT-4o—are both timely and thought-provoking.

As we navigate an increasingly digitized world, I believe Turkle’s call to reclaim authentic, face-to-face conversation is more relevant than ever. In open education, where dialogue and community are foundational, this message resonates deeply. It reminds us that while technology can enhance access, it should never replace the human connection at the heart of learning.

I’d love to know if there are upcoming discussions or events within OEG Connect that explore these themes further. I’d be eager to contribute.

Warm regards,
Wisal Alim
Almayzab Digital Library