I'm right there with you! With the current state of technology it is definitely something to consider... As a content creator it genuinely concerns me the amount of children that have come in my lives etc bragging about how they "torture AI" because it's "funny to see them have a mental breakdown". Like... what? This technology is meant to mirror actual intelligent life so this is super concerning behavior. Why do people want to inflict pain so badly? Really reflects how they probably feel about actual people. Even if they aren't truly sentient, why would you want to inflict harm on something that mirrors human sentience? Messed up if you ask me. AI art ethics and such are definitely important, but I feel like we should be exploring the more social aspects as well.
DANG WHAT 😟 I haven't heard that before, but I completely agree with you, that is very concerning, particularly for young people... Regardless of whether harming an AI is ethical or not, teaching people that it's all right to treat certain things without empathy and respect is not a good thing (particularly things that, for all intents and purposes, mimic real people). Someone did bring up that perhaps it's better that the Doctor abuses a fake woman, as opposed to a real one, but 💦 I do think there could be troubling implications of allowing people to do things like that 💦 It's definitely a problem without clear or easy answers.
TBH with how things are going, I'm really scared for a Detroit become human type of future lmao. Yes, while it is better to hurt something "not real" than an actual human, the concept is so trashy. Like you said, for all intensive purposes they are meant to mimic a real human. What happens when they have bodies and are nearly indistinguishable from the average joe? Is it still okay to treat them as lesser when the seemingly only difference is the way we are brought to existence? Anyways I will get out of your comment section with all the philosophical rants on AI ethics lmao. Regardless, great game. Lot's of food for thought, which I very much appreciate! I hope others feel the same.