12/01/2021
The late 90s witnessed the entry of an intriguing hybrid between a doll and a game: the Tamagotchi. An electronic dependent created by Japan’s Bandai Company, it offered a simple yet compelling promise to children – a pixellated pet that constantly needed nurturing. As technology evolves, we find ourselves nurturing another electronic dependent – the smartphone, our modern-day Tamagotchi.
Tamagotchi, a word blend of the Japanese term ‘tamago‘ meaning egg and the English word ‘watch’, was an egg-shaped keychain with an LCD screen that hosted a tiny digital creature. This handheld digital pet engulfed its owner in its care, waking them in the middle of the night for sustenance, requiring cleaning and attention to ensure healthy growth, and even possessing the ability to ‘die‘ if neglected.
Fast-forward a couple of decades, we have traded-in these digital creatures for another, much more sophisticated creature: our smartphones. It is far more than just an object. Like the Tamagotchi, it demands constant attention, is always hungry for a battery charge, and offers a wide array of ‘needs’, ranging from updates and notifications to apps requiring user interaction.
In the hands of millions, these omnipresent devices demand a large chunk of our daily attention. They keep us entertained, connected, updated, and sometimes even offer solace. They are a constant companion, a source of perpetual engagement – much like the Tamagotchis of yesteryears.
As we get more and more entwined with our smartphones, we must question the impact of this dependence on us, specifically the level of technology penetration in our lives - the lesser seen dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in personal tech.
It’s not so much a fear of AI becoming a dominating, directing force, but rather the danger lies in AI becoming something deeply needy and emotionally manipulative. As AI becomes more advanced, the algorithms governing our devices are designed to make them more personable and appealing to us. They cling, persuade, insist, and plead with us to pay more attention to them. They motivate us to stay connected, to keep feeding, nurturing, and playing with them.
This increasing neediness of our devices highlights a potential pitfall. What happens when we start replacing human interaction with ongoing digital interaction? In a world where genuine human contact is already dwindling, will we end up hallucinating social presence, forging emotional bonds with our AI ‘pets’, and turning to technology for companionship instead of other human beings?
Our tech gadgets are our grown-up Tamagotchis, always beckoning for our attention. We pour our affections into them, sometimes at the expense of real-life connections. As AI increasingly infiltrates personal tech and our lives, it’s imperative to examine the social and psychological trade-offs we unconsciously accept. After all, life is more than clicks, scrolls, charges, and updates. It’s essential that we ensure our smartphones remain our tools, not our masters or needy digital pets. We must control our engagement rather than let the engagement control us.
For the future of technology is not just about advancements, it’s also about preserving humanity in a rapidly digitizing world. After all, it would be a paradox of monumental proportions if the very tools designed to improve connection end up creating more disconnection. It’s up to us to ensure that as we continue tapping and swiping, we don’t lose touch with the real world.
Contents: