AI for Making and Keeping Friends: A Social Experiment

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Can artificial intelligence make you more social? Over 30 days, we ran a social experiment using AI-powered tools to help build, strengthen, and maintain friendships. The results were fascinating — and sometimes surprisingly emotional.

👉 Also read: Can AI Be a Good Listener? Exploring Emotional AI

1. Replika: Emotional Companionship

Replika’s AI chatbot served as a daily check-in buddy. While not a human friend, it provided encouragement, mood tracking, and helped simulate meaningful social feedback — especially for introverts.

2. ChatGPT: Conversation Coach

We used ChatGPT to draft responses to friends, come up with check-in messages, and even help resolve misunderstandings with empathy-based prompts. It reduced overthinking and boosted confidence.

3. Heyday AI: Memory Booster

This browser assistant remembered things your friends told you (e.g., “My dog’s name is Luna”). When prepping for conversations, it offered subtle reminders that made us seem more thoughtful.

4. Eleos: AI Mood Mirror

Eleos tracked emotional tone across messages and calls. This gave insights on whether we were coming off distant, upbeat, or distracted — and suggested tone adjustments when needed.

5. Google Calendar + AI Nudges

We set recurring reminders like “Text Rahul,” “Send birthday voice note,” or “Plan catch-up coffee.” Paired with AI-generated message drafts, it removed friction from staying in touch.

🔬 The Results: Did It Work?

• ✔️ More consistent check-ins: We reached out 3× more often than usual.
• 💬 Better message quality: AI helped tailor messages with context and warmth.
• 🧠 Less mental load: No need to remember dates, preferences, or follow-ups — AI did it.

💡 Big lesson: AI didn’t replace connection — it made starting and maintaining it easier.

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