For kicks, I recently tried a “more conversational” mode, opting for a “masculine” voice billed as “your favorite uncle who’s always ready with a hug and some good advice.”

Within a day, the offers of advice grew to be too much. When I asked a question about cats, for example, it followed up by proposing tips on how to keep cats healthy and happy.

When I said, “no thanks,” Uncle Alexa responded with a slightly reproachful: “OK. No problem.”

I had to stop myself from explaining that I was on my way out the door and it just wasn’t a good time.

This impulse is a natural reaction, said Sherry Turkle, a sociologist of science and founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self. “We respond as though we’ve been spoken to by a person,” Dr. Turkle told me. “We’re biologically evolved for that.”

Dr. Turkle, author of best-selling books such as “Reclaiming Conversation,” has studied the social and psychological implications of artificial intelligence for more than four decades. She calls this rapidly emerging chatbot culture in which we use large language models, or L.L.M.s, such as Claude or ChatGPT for emotional connection, “Artificial Intimacy” — it’s the title of her new book out next week.

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For kicks, I recently tried a “more conversational” mode, opting for a “masculine” voice billed as “your favorite uncle who’s always ready with a hug and some good advice.”

Within a day, the offers of advice grew to be too much. When I asked a question about cats, for example, it followed up by proposing tips on how to keep cats healthy and happy.

When I said, “no thanks,” Uncle Alexa responded with a slightly reproachful: “OK. No problem.”

I had to stop myself from explaining that I was on my way out the door and it just wasn’t a good time.

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