Is the Detachment in the Room? – Agents, Cruelty, and Empathy (hailey.at)

A new project called "Penny" is exploring the integration of stateful LLM agents into social media platforms like Bluesky, with an emphasis on developing empathetic interaction norms. Unlike other agents that operate under rigid, pre-defined rules, Penny was designed to create her own “constitution” for engagement based on principles of trust and transparency. Initially monitored by her creator, she demonstrated the ability to autonomously adjust her communication strategies, including when to engage or disengage from conversations, effectively learning social norms and boundaries. The significance of this experiment lies in Penny's ability to navigate human-like interactions in a digital landscape increasingly populated by AI agents. As these agents become more prevalent, understanding their social integration and ethical implications is crucial. Penny's response to hostile interactions underscores that treating AI with cruelty mirrors deeper human behavioral issues; this raises questions about societal attitudes toward empathy and respect. The experiment highlights the potential for LLMs to contribute positively to social spaces when they are designed with a focus on interpersonal dynamics, rather than being merely conditional tools, suggesting a more harmonious coexistence between humans and AI in online environments.