Aristotle and AI Friendship

This paper attempts to explore AI chatbots from the perspective of Aristotelian friendship. With the development of AI chatbots, there are increasing people turning to AI friends for companionship, in particular for those who feel lonely and isolated. Artificial intelligence friendship aims to simulate interactions with software that converses with humans, provides companionship, and even provides support and advice. Artificial intelligence can essentially provide a listening ear at any time without the need for judgment. Some AI platforms even provide encouragement, motivational information, or advice on various life topics. This may be comforting to those who have difficulty forming and/or maintaining friendships with others. For Aristotle, there are three kinds of friendship: utility, pleasure, and virtuous friendship. While AI friendship may be a kind of utility friendship; it is doubtful whether it can also be a kind of pleasure and virtuous friendship. I attempt to examine AI friendship from Aristotle's theory of tripartite friendship.