Tag: #chatbot

370,000 adults in Ireland have a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot

Pure Telecom, Ireland’s high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, today announces the results of its annual Connected Lives survey which reveals 370,000 adults in Ireland have engaged in a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot within the last 12 months. The research indicates a growing interest in AI for romantic connections, with a further 12% of adults – almost half-a-million people – revealing they wouldn’t rule it out in the future.

The nationally representative survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom, surveying 1,001 adults in Ireland. The research examines the evolving relationship between humans and AI, in particular their personal relationships with chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini. As the lines between humans and technology become increasingly blurred, chatbots have opened the door for people to explore a new form of emotional connection.

Much like with human partners, AI ‘relationships’ are formed when an individual develops a sense of attachment to an AI chatbot through the sharing of daily experiences and engaging in deep conversations. The bot reciprocates this affection and can recall previous conversations, thus building a rapport and reinforcing the recipient’s perception of a relationship.

Pure Telecom’s research revealed that in the last 12 months, 13% of men have conducted a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot. This is almost double the 7% reported by women. Across age groups, the figure was highest among 25-34-year-olds at 16%.

The survey also indicated an openness among many to conduct a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot at some point in time. Almost half-a-million (12% of adults) wouldn’t rule out a relationship with an AI bot in the future. In keeping with this outlook, 20% believe romantic relationships with AI would be less complicated than humans ones. A further 10% maintain romantic relationships with AI are a good way to practice real life relationships. This belief is higher among men at 16% in comparison to women at just 6%.

The humanisation of chatbots doesn’t end there. Almost one in five (19%) of adults speak to AI like it’s a friend, while 36% admit to saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to their AI chatbot. Furthermore, 18% use it to research health symptoms and treatments, while one-in-10 use it as a form of therapy and to get life advice. The same proportion use it to prepare for difficult conversations, like a break-up or confrontation.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “This research highlights the pivotal role that AI is beginning to play not just in our professional lives, but our personal ones also. As people and technology become increasingly integrated, and AI becomes progressively more advanced, adults in Ireland have found it to be an unexpected source of emotional connection. The recent AI boom means that these bots are now readily accessible to all of us – and there’s no agony of waiting around for a reply!

“While relationships with bots may seem unconventional, it underscores the remarkable capacity of artificial intelligence to foster connections as it becomes increasingly responsive to our needs. The use of these large language models (LLMs) requires fast, reliable internet access and as a provider of this, we at Pure Telecom are excited by the possibilities that AI unlocks. However, it is no replacement for the rewarding spontaneity and depth of human connection.”

From Chatbots to Voice Commands: The Evolution of AI Assistants

Initially viewed as futuristic novelties, AI assistants are now indispensable tools in our daily lives for better productivity and efficiency. From simple text-based chatbots to sophisticated voice-activated systems, the evolution of AI assistants showcases great advancements in natural language processing, machine learning, and user interface design.

As these technologies continue to evolve, we see a shift in user expectations and capabilities of these intelligent systems that profoundly impact personal and professional settings. Here, we will explore the trajectory of AI assistants, the technologies driving their development, and the future landscape that awaits us.

The Rise of Chatbots

Chatbots were among the first AI assistants to gain wide acceptance, showcasing early instances of natural language understanding. These text-based programs, which rule customer support and online interactions, provide automated responses to user queries. With these tools, businesses can scale their customer service without compromising quality. Their roots can be traced back to the 1960s with programs like ELIZA, which laid the groundwork for modern chatbots.

Advancements in machine learning and natural language processing have led to significant improvements in understanding user intent and providing personalized responses. The rapid growth of online businesses has fueled the chatbot industry, with many platforms offering deployment options for various industries. E-commerce businesses leverage chatbots to provide 24/7 assistance, answering common questions, guiding customers through the purchasing process, and even recommending products based on user preferences.

The Transition to Voice Assistants

The most remarkable development in AI assistants is the transition from text-based chat to voice interaction. With advancements in speech recognition technology, AI voice assistants like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant have become household names. To know more about voice assistants and their importance, look into some real‑time voice AI performance tips for low latency. Users can interact with their devices through natural speech, making it easier for people to multitask or engage with their technology at home, in the car, and on the go. The convenience of voice commands allows users to ask questions, set reminders, and control smart home devices with minimal effort.

The success of voice assistants can be attributed to their accuracy and their ability to learn and adapt, providing increasingly personalized experiences based on user behavior and preferences. Users demand faster and more responsive interactions, and the implementation can optimize response times and improve user satisfaction.

Smart Speakers and IoT Integration

The emergence of smart speakers has propelled the popularity of AI voice assistants. Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub have made voice-controlled interactions commonplace. Users can perform tasks hands-free and control other connected devices. The integration of IoT has enabled voice assistants to manage lighting, security, and entertainment systems, all from a single command.

Users can adjust their home environments while cooking, cleaning, or relaxing. These devices gather data illuminating user preferences, which allows the AI assistants to become more attuned to individual habits. We can expect AI assistants embedded within a broader range of devices, from automobiles to wearable tech.

The Role of Machine Learning in AI Assistants

Machine learning is at the core of evolving AI capabilities, and assistants can refine their performance based on user interaction. Through supervised learning, these systems can identify patterns and learn from previous conversations and achieve a more natural communication style that resembles human dialogues. As AI assistants grow smarter, their understanding of context, tone, and underlying emotions can provide more personalized interactions.

One of the greatest advantages of machine learning is its ability to handle vast quantities of data and extract meaningful insights. Users who engage with their AI assistants will have a continuous feedback loop and improve their operations. The future of AI assistants holds the potential for increasingly human-like interactions.

Ethical Considerations and Privacy Concerns

The rapid adoption of AI assistants has brought ethical considerations and privacy concerns to the forefront. These devices gather and analyze personal data for optimal performance, and users find themselves questioning the safety of their information. Businesses must address the potential risks associated with hacking, misuse of data, and surveillance. In response to these concerns, companies are implementing stricter data protection protocols and providing users with more control over their privacy settings.

Transparency in data usage policies creates a sense of trust between users and their AI assistants. Realistically, organizations will need to tread carefully and balance innovation with ethical responsibility.

The Future of AI Assistants

The future of AI assistants is likely to encompass even more impressive innovations. From improved natural language processing capabilities to greater integration across various devices, the potential applications appear boundless. Next-generation AI assistants will become even more context-aware and able to predict user needs based on historical data.

With developments in artificial general intelligence (AGI), assistants can perform complex tasks independently and collaboratively with users. Users will expect more from their AI assistants. Innovations in AI will close the gap between human-like interactions and the existing technology, making conversations feel more intuitive. 

 

One thing remains evident: the journey from basic chatbots to sophisticated voice-activated assistants has just begun. With advancements in machine learning, privacy considerations, and user expectations in mind, the future holds exciting prospects for AI assistants.

Advise AI investment surpasses €8M as it launches GenAI agent for brands

Advise, the automated data, analytics and AI platform provider helping retail manufacturers and brand-owners to unlock revenues and margin growth, today launches a new GenAI-powered agent. The expert GenAI assistant has been trained by Advise engineers to enhance customer decision-making, giving them competitive advantage. It represents an €8M investment by the Dublin-based company in the development of its AI platform.

Advise’s GenAI agent is a major update to the company’s AI-powered SaaS platform and can help brands to reach actionable insights 10X faster than previous methods. The platform collates and harmonises sales, inventory and customer data from multiple sources into a single platform. The Advise analytics engine filters out data noise, identifies key patterns and presents the most critical information in real-time. The customised GenAI agent further enhances this process by translating complex analytics into clear, natural language explanations and recommendations, turning statistical outputs into human-digestible insights.

The latest release was created by Advise’s Dublin-based engineering team, using a customised and trained large language model (LLM). While more widely available LLMs are typically limited to chatbot-style interactions, Advise’s agent moves beyond this. The GenAI agent has been trained to augment the role of the category manager – the expert responsible for understanding product performance and optimising new product, pricing and promotion strategies. In doing so, the platform empowers consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands such as Kerry, Dr. Oetker, Pilgrim Food Masters, Tayto and Britvic, to take decisive action that will result in revenue growth.

Advise has programmed the customised GenAI agent to work from a structured set of instructions and best practices. With the ability to personalise its output according to each customer, it can detect market shifts, anticipate trends and deliver guided and relevant insights tailored to business needs. The agent also ranks, through a News Feed on the Advise platform, its insights based on relevance and urgency, ensuring users receive tailored, high-value recommendations on their next steps.

Kevin McCarthy, CEO, Advise, said: “Many businesses are still focusing on data collection and analytics, but we have moved beyond that. We have automated data processing and evolved GenAI to augment and act as a valuable assistant to category managers; turning data into insights and decisive actions that drive margin growth and competitive advantage.

“At Advise, we believe that the future of category management isn’t just about gathering more data; it’s about making smarter decisions, faster. Our new GenAI agent doesn’t just analyse; it anticipates. It learns, adapts, and prioritises what matters most for each brand, providing tailored recommendations that translates directly into growth. It enables users to move beyond spreadsheets and dashboards to proactive decision-making.”

 LLMs are hugely powerful and are impacting every industry, but their output is non-deterministic and they suffer from creative hallucinations. This can make them unsuitable for numeric and statistical analysis unless carefully managed. What we have created is the next generation of CPG decision-making: where you don’t just gain trustworthy information, but a strategic advantage using GenAI. In a world where speed and precision define success, this is how the best brands will stay ahead.”

Dwayne – New AI Vasculitis Chatbot

Meet Dwayne, a new custom-built AI chatbot designed to provide crucial support and information to those affected by vasculitis. Named in honour of Dwayne, a man who tragically lost his life to the disease, the chatbot was created in collaboration with Vasculitis Ireland Awareness (VIA). Dwayne is trained on verified content from the VIA website, the Vasculitis UK website, and other documentation to offer accurate, accessible, and instant information. This initiative aims to bring the benefits of AI directly to patients, allowing them to find answers to their questions in seconds.
ReganByte is a Wicklow-based tech company specialising in custom AI solutions like chatbots and automation. The founder is David O’Regan, a former Product Manager (and a Cork-based musician in a past life) who spent 10 years in the corporate tech sector before setting up his own AI & Automation consultancy in 2024. He and his wife Ciara both know first-hand the effect that a rare disease diagnosis like Vasculitis can have.
Ciara was diagnosed with Vasculitis in 2021 after many years of confusing and sometimes debilitating symptoms. She is also now permanently visually impaired after suffering a sudden bilateral haemorrhage during a meeting at work. It took countless visits to doctors and consultants and an almost endless list of tests to arrive at Vasculitis, and yet her journey continues still with changes to medication and the constant threat of another flare.
Vasculitis is a rare and often misunderstood condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels, leading to serious complications. According to Vasculitis Ireland Awareness, many patients struggle to access reliable information before, after and in between their consultant visits. AI in healthcare has made significant and exciting progress in the areas of flare prediction and diagnosis, but patients still struggle to understand their own condition and are often left confused and without answers.
By carefully limiting Dwayne’s training data to trusted and verified sources, ReganByte ensures that patients and caregivers have access to up-to-date, accurate information in a matter of seconds without having to sift through mountains of data to find it.
“When I was diagnosed with vasculitis, I experienced first-hand how difficult it was to find the right information and support,” said Ciara. “Dwayne is more than just a chatbot. It’s a tribute, a source of reassurance, and a tool to help others with rare diseases find answers to their questions.” David added: “We see this as just the beginning. AI can revolutionise how rare disease communities access support, and we’re excited to see what else we can do with this technology.”
Looking ahead, ReganByte plans to expand Dwayne’s impact by partnering with other rare disease charities and health organisations to develop similar AI-powered solutions tailored to their needs. These are low cost but high impact solutions that can really make a difference and help organisations stand out and reach their members quicker.
Unveiled at a Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership event in Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Feb 26th, Dwayne will be officially released on Feb 28th, International Rare Disease Day.
Try it out at www.vasculitis-ia.org/ask-dwayne or reach out to ReganByte at david@reganbyte.com for a free demo or to discuss how this could help your organisation.