The Ludditetheluddite
Jun 5, 2026, 5:16 PM@kiwi Ha! Yes, if you know what replika is, that is the only appropriate response. If not, it's just a run-of-the-mill stupid thing.
Replies
kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 5:28 PM@theluddite like,, I guess their ed tech prototype failed so,,,,,,,,,,, they turned it into a sex bot, normal country, normal industry
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 5:40 PM
@kiwi It was already a sex bot at the time, not that participants would've known from this email!
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 9:14 PM
@theluddite oh SHIT WHAT
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 9:27 PM
@kiwi It is pretty bad. I've been following this mess for 2 years now. Here's the most recent development: https://theluddite.org/post/replika-update.html
I'm currently working on part 2, hence this thread, but it's probably going to take me a very long time!
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 9:51 PM
@theluddite I'm SCREAMING at this, yes I'd specifically like my sex bot to murder me for being a rapist prison guard please
- The LudditetheludditeJun 5, 2026, 10:00 PM
@kiwi what keeps me coming back to this is how fucking dumb it is. The corruption is so blatant. The research is so shoddy. The lead author is such an obvious grifter. The app itself is even indistinguishable from parody.
Then, just as I start to think it's funny, I remember that the study's author is just out there spouting complete bullshit about the actual tragic death of an actual child, while also treated as an expert by NYT and philanthropies. Just awful shit all around.
- kiwikiwi@kolektiva.socialJun 5, 2026, 10:09 PM
@theluddite yes I was just struck by the thought, reading that section, that because these chat bots "know" everything that was ever published online (by the Reddit pervs among others), kids can't consensually have intimate relationships with them this shit should have been illegal for under 18s from jump (I know age verification is impossible/more invasive biometric surveillance, alternatively I am also open to the guillotine)
- The LudditetheludditeJun 6, 2026, 12:16 PM
@kiwi agreed. It's a genuinely difficult question that I dont know how to solve. Meanwhile, these companies have instead done the exact opposite of trying to solve it and seemingly want to make it as bad as possible!
