1st Session

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Which is better, the book or the movie?

3. Who is your favorite author?

4. What kinds of books do you like?

Young and Old Turn to AI Chatbots for Companionship

In the 2013 movie Her, a lonely man going through a difficult divorce finds himself falling in love with an artificial intelligence (AI) companion.

When that movie came out, AI wasn't developed enough to provide people with companionship. But today, over 100 million people around the world are using AI chatbot companions that can provide friendship, advice ― and even romantic relationships. Many people use AI companions because, just like in the movie Her, they feel lonely.

However, a 2023 study found that AI companions could be addictive, and some experts warn that they could be used to manipulate people or collect their personal data. There are also concerns that young people using AI companions won't learn how to have relationships with real people ― who, unlike chatbots, don't agree with you all the time.

However, it's not just young people who are using AI companions. Alex Cardinell, CEO of the AI companionship app Nomi, told NBC News that his app has attracted users of all ages and genders ― and a large percentage of them are older users. "There's a big elder loneliness epidemic going on right now," Cardinell said. And for some people, an AI companion can offer useful tips on managing relationships in the real world.

Travis Peacock, who has autism and ADHD, told The Guardian that he had trouble managing romantic and professional relationships until he trained ChatGPT to offer him advice on how to manage social interactions. One year later, Peacock says he now has a network of friends, a healthy long-term romantic relationship, and has enjoyed "one of the most productive years of my life."

Others, though, may turn to AI companions out of disappointment with real relationships. One user called Sakura told NBC News that although a lot of people think she uses AI because she is lonely, "It's like, no, no, you're going to an AI because people are jerks."

1. Do you have any concerns about the use of AI for companionship?

2. How often do you use AI chatbots in your day-to-day life?

3. What do you find AI most helpful for?

4. Are there any things you wish AI could do better?

2nd Session

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Which exercise would you prefer: jogging, swimming or cycling?

3. Do you think exercising makes your brain work better?

4. Is it more fun to exercise alone or with other people?

Humanoid Robots Race Humans in China Half-Marathon

Running a half-marathon isn't easy, especially as you get closer to the finish when everything hurts ― your legs, lungs, chest and feet feel every one of those 21.1 kilometers.

However fast or slow you run, you'll always feel something in your body ― unless you're a robot, that is.

That was put to the test this April in China, when 21 humanoid robots took part in a half-marathon alongside human competitors. Organizers said it was a world first, with bipedal robots ― robots with two legs ― competing in the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing. With no muscles, no lungs and no self-doubt, they must have won the race, right?

Not quite! The first robot to finish took two hours and 40 minutes, which was more than twice as long as the male winner of the race, who finished in 62 minutes. The robots weren't left to fend completely for themselves ― they were supported by teams of human navigators, operators and engineers. As a precaution, a divider separated the parallel courses used by the robots and people. The rules for the robots were also slightly different: they were allowed to take breaks to swap batteries ― something human runners would surely have loved to do too! The Sky Project Ultra robot from the Tien Kung Team claimed victory among the nonhumans.

But some of the robots had a hard time. According to the BBC, one robot fell at the start line and lay on its front for a few minutes before eventually beginning its race. Another crashed into a railing not long into the race, causing its human helper to fall to the ground. Engineers said that the winning robot was helped by having long legs, while it was also programmed with an algorithm that was designed to help it run a long-distance race like a human. The human world record isn't under threat just yet, but engineers across the world continue to experiment!

1. What are your thoughts on humanoid robots taking part in a half-marathon?

2. Do you expect to see more sports events with humans competing against robots in the future?

3. Do you find it surprising that humans beat the robots?

4. What sports events would you most like to watch in person?