When AI Becomes Relational: Trust, Intimacy and Responsibility

As AI evolves into more conversational forms, interactions are becoming increasingly personal. People are using AI for brainstorming, learning, seeking advice, or simply having someone to talk to. This shift raises important questions:

🤖 What responsibilities do developers have when these interactions are perceived as emotionally meaningful?
🤝 How should we approach trust, memory, consent, emotional safety, and vulnerable users?
🔍 Are current evaluation methods for AI sufficient when the quality of relationships matters as much as the quality of responses?

Join us for an Off-Script panel that delves into these questions from the perspectives of researchers, builders, and governance practitioners. Instead of debating the merits of relational AI, we will explore the opportunities, risks, and design considerations involved in creating AI systems that people engage with on a human level.

Panelists:

• Mabel Loh (Founder, Maibel)
  Mabel is the founder of Maibel, an AI startup in Singapore focused on building emotionally intelligent wellness companions for women. Her work emphasizes relational AI safety, behavioral evaluation, and user trust.

• Hakim Norhashim (Research Associate, NUS AI Institute)
  Hakim's research focuses on AI governance and cultural alignment, developing frameworks that guide AI practices while considering local contexts.

• Dr. Gerard Yeo (Research Scientist, CATOS, A*STAR)
  Dr. Yeo studies the intersection of AI and psychology, focusing on how AI systems reason about human emotions and social interactions, and how this affects trust.

Moderator:

• Dr. Kenny Choo (Assistant Professor, SUTD)
  Dr. Choo directs the Context-Aware Interaction Lab and researches trust in AI systems, bridging human-centered design with technical AI/ML systems.

About the Series:

Off‑Script is a conversation series by Lorong AI that fosters dialogue at the intersection of technology, design, and society. It encourages thoughtful exchanges beyond traditional presentations.

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