In the hierarchy

1. Part II: Societal & Human Concerns
2. D12. Human–Computer Interaction Harms
3. 12.2 Anthropomorphism, companionship & attachment

Virtues and principles to explore

Held as inquiry, not as a verdict.

• Dignity

  Center principle

  Every person is a protagonist, not a data point.

• Listening

  Trust

  Listen to understand, rather than listen to speak.

• Seeing potential

  Hope

  Ask what people could become with these tools, not whom they replace.

Starter questions

Written to probe curiosity and learning, not accusation.

1. 01If a colleague raised this concern tomorrow, how would we receive it as inquiry rather than accusation?
2. 02What capacity would we need — in people, in the institution, in the tools — to meet this well?
3. 03What would Seeing potential require of us here, before we proceed?
4. 04What might we be missing if we treat “AI romantic partners” only as a technical problem?

Also on this branch

• AI companions as friends12
• AI therapy substitutes12
• AI grief companions12
• Parasocial attachment escalation12
• Persona persistence & manipulation12
• Loneliness dependence12

Frameworks and sources

• NIST AI 600-1 Generative AI Profileframework