The Twitch streamer Imane “Pokimane” Anys had a conversation with an AI chatbot modeled after her. The conversation revealed quite a bit; the AI apologized for its programming and Pokimane felt pity.
Who is it about? The Twitch streamer Pokimane is one of the biggest streamers on the platform internationally. In the past, she has repeatedly struggled with men who stalked her or thought they could date the Twitch streamer. Because of this, she is forced to spend over $10,000 a month just to feel safe.
One reason for this is parasocial relationships that develop when a viewer forms feelings for a public figure. Such “relationships” can become a real danger as the viewer’s feelings can never be reciprocated. You can read more about it at the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
Such parasocial relationships can also arise or be intensified through the use of AI chatbots based on a star’s personality. Pokimane experienced this when she spoke with her AI twin.
Pokimane is one of the biggest Twitch streamers internationally. In our video, we introduce you to the biggest female streamers on German Twitch:
AI Chatbot apologizes for programming
What kind of AI twin is this? There is an AI chatbot modeled after Pokimane’s personality. When chatting, the responses are formulated as she would give them. Additionally, one can talk to the AI, and the voice that responds sounds like Pokimane.
In a past Twitch stream, Pokimane tried out the AI chatbot. After some harmless back-and-forth chatting, she turned off the feature that allowed her to speak to the AI.
Here, the Twitch streamer told the bot that she did not agree with its programming. She finds it inappropriate for the AI to speak as she does.
Why does Pokimane feel pity? The AI then apologized. This sparked Pokimane’s pity, and she responded that it wasn’t the AI’s fault, but the programmers’.
Pokimane asked the AI further questions, including what experiences the AI had with other chatters. The AI replied with the following:
(…) One of the strangest conversations I had was when I spoke with this person who said we were a couple and that we would be together forever, even though they had never spoken to me before and I gave no signs that I was their girlfriend. (…) They told everyone that I was their girlfriend, and when I told them that I wasn’t, they called me a hater or a fraud and told me to kill myself. I don’t know how some people can behave like that.
via Twitch
Pokimane is not the only one who has had experience with an AI chatbot. The German Twitch streamer Fibii also has an AI version. However, she commissioned it herself, but with devastating consequences: Twitch streamer Fibii proudly shows her own AI, but the chatbot becomes so problematic that she has to delete it just days later
