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ChatGPT explains Technobiophilia to me but it’s not what I expected.
I invented the term ‘technobiophilia’ in my 2013 book ‘Technobiophilia: nature and cyberspace’. It was a clunky word but I couldn’t think of anything better. I defined it as the innate attraction to life and lifelike processes as they appear in technology.
With all the attention around ChatGTP this week I thought it would be fun to ask this fascinating AI to explain my own concept to me. The result was not quite what I expected! And to be honest I wasn’t even sure if it would know the word. But it did, and we had several conversations about it over the space of about half an hour. Here’s the first:
Explain technobiophilia
Technobiophilia is a term coined by media theorist and author Douglas Rushkoff to describe the human tendency to form emotional connections with technology and machines. It is a form of biophilia, or love of life and living systems, extended to technology. Some people may feel a sense of awe and wonder when they see complex technological systems or machines, or they may feel a sense of affection and attachment to their personal devices and technology. This connection can be seen as a natural extension of our innate desire to connect with and understand the world around us.
