title: Human–AI friendship is possible and can be good

authors: Munn, Nicholas

subjects: friendship

abstract: This article argues that human–AI friendships are possible and, in some current and many future contexts, can be valuable—both for the humans participating in them and for the wider society in which such friendships exist. To begin, the article discusses some weaknesses in existing conceptions of friendship, including the theories of friendship commonly applied to human–AI relationships. It proposes a flexible conception of friendship that avoids these weaknesses. The article then analyzes the main objections to human–AI friendships being either possible or good—that humans cannot see AI as their friends; that these friendships are not good because they are unequal; that AI lack the capacity to be a friend; and that human–AI friendships displace (more valuable) human–human friendships. It argues that each of these objections fails to withstand critical scrutiny. In some cases, the analyses also amount to a rejection of existing views of friendship that require what are taken to be unnecessary features. Having dealt with these objections, the article shows that human–AI friendship is possible on the more flexible conception of friendship. It then provides some evidence that human–AI friendships can be good, such as by providing human users with the experience of being emotionally supported. The article also notes some practical concerns about the ways human–AI friendships might proliferate and the moral responsibilities that might accrue to governments and corporations accordingly. The article concludes that the new view of friendship means the value human–AI friendship should be re-evaluated as possible and potentially valuable today and in the future.

text: Human–AI friendship is possible and can be good This article argues that human–AI friendships are possible and, in some current and many future contexts, can be valuable—both for the humans participating in them and for the wider society in which such friendships exist. To begin, the article discusses some weaknesses in existing conceptions of friendship, including the theories of friendship commonly applied to human–AI relationships. It proposes a flexible conception of friendship that avoids these weaknesses. The article then analyzes the main objections to human–AI friendships being either possible or good—that humans cannot see AI as their friends; that these friendships are not good because they are unequal; that AI lack the capacity to be a friend; and that human–AI friendships displace (more valuable) human–human friendships. It argues that each of these objections fails to withstand critical scrutiny. In some cases, the analyses also amount to a rejection of existing views of friendship that require what are taken to be unnecessary features. Having dealt with these objections, the article shows that human–AI friendship is possible on the more flexible conception of friendship. It then provides some evidence that human–AI friendships can be good, such as by providing human users with the experience of being emotionally supported. The article also notes some practical concerns about the ways human–AI friendships might proliferate and the moral responsibilities that might accrue to governments and corporations accordingly. The article concludes that the new view of friendship means the value human–AI friendship should be re-evaluated as possible and potentially valuable today and in the future.

year: 2025

title: Reliability of a 2-Bout exercise test on a Wattbike cycle ergometer

authors: Driller, Matthew W.

subjects: power output

abstract: Purpose: To determine the intraday and interday reliability of a 2 × 4-min performance test on a cycle ergometer (Wattbike) separated by 30 min of passive recovery (2 × 4MMP). Methods: Twelve highly trained cyclists (mean ± SD; age = 20 ± 2 y, predicted VO2max = 59.0 ± 3.6 mL · kg–1 · min–1) completed six 2 × 4MMP cycling tests on a Wattbike ergometer separated by 7 d. Mean power was measured to determine intraday (test 1 [T1] to test 2 [T2]) and interday reliability (weeks 1–6) over the repeated trials. Results: The mean intraday reliabilities of the 2 × 4MMP test, as expressed by the typical error of measurement (TEM, W) and coefficient of variation (CV, %) over the 6 wk, were 10.0 W (95% confidence limits [CL] 8.2–11.8), and 2.6% (95%CL 2.1–3.1), respectively. The mean interday reliability TEM and CV for T1 over the 6 wk were 10.4 W (95%CL 8.7–13.3) and 2.7% (95%CL 2.3–3.5), respectively, and 11.7 W (95%CL 9.8–15.1) and 3.0% (95%CL 2.5–3.9) for T2. Conclusion: The testing protocol performed on a Wattbike cycle ergometer in the current study is reproducible in highly trained cyclists. The high intraday and interday reliability make it a reliable method for monitoring cycling performance and for investigating factors that affect performance in cycling events.

text: Reliability of a 2-Bout exercise test on a Wattbike cycle ergometer Purpose: To determine the intraday and interday reliability of a 2 × 4-min performance test on a cycle ergometer (Wattbike) separated by 30 min of passive recovery (2 × 4MMP). Methods: Twelve highly trained cyclists (mean ± SD; age = 20 ± 2 y, predicted VO2max = 59.0 ± 3.6 mL · kg–1 · min–1) completed six 2 × 4MMP cycling tests on a Wattbike ergometer separated by 7 d. Mean power was measured to determine intraday (test 1 [T1] to test 2 [T2]) and interday reliability (weeks 1–6) over the repeated trials. Results: The mean intraday reliabilities of the 2 × 4MMP test, as expressed by the typical error of measurement (TEM, W) and coefficient of variation (CV, %) over the 6 wk, were 10.0 W (95% confidence limits [CL] 8.2–11.8), and 2.6% (95%CL 2.1–3.1), respectively. The mean interday reliability TEM and CV for T1 over the 6 wk were 10.4 W (95%CL 8.7–13.3) and 2.7% (95%CL 2.3–3.5), respectively, and 11.7 W (95%CL 9.8–15.1) and 3.0% (95%CL 2.5–3.9) for T2. Conclusion: The testing protocol performed on a Wattbike cycle ergometer in the current study is reproducible in highly trained cyclists. The high intraday and interday reliability make it a reliable method for monitoring cycling performance and for investigating factors that affect performance in cycling events.

year: 2014

title: Inter-propositional semantic relations and semantic relational encoding in written discourse in Maori: an investigation

authors: Houia, Waldo

subjects: Maori

abstract: This thesis is an investigation of the various ways in which relationships of meaning between propositions (such as reason-result and temporal overlap) are encoded (as clauses, sentences and groups of sentences) and signalled in Maori.
In Chapter 1, the overall research topic and research questions are outlined.
Chapter 2 locates the research on inter-propositional semantic relations with reference to the concept of cohesion which is central to inter-propositional relational signalling and encoding. Here, reference is made to a number of relevant publications in the area.
Chapter 3 provides an introductory examination of the role of cohesion in the encoding and signalling of inter-propositional semantic relations in Maori.
Chapter 4 introduces a corpus of written texts and examines that corpus in terms of the ways in which inter-propositional semantic relations are encoded.
Chapter 5 examines a number of textbooks designed for learners of both English and Maori in terms of the extent to which they draw upon insights relating to the operation of inter-propositional semantic relations.
In Chapter 6, the research findings are summarised and their implications for aspects of the teaching and learning of Maori are discussed. In addition, suggestions are made in relation to future research possibilities.
Overall, the conclusion reached is that the study of semantic relational encoding and signalling in Maori texts reveals a number of aspects of language that appear not to be commonly taught and suggests the need for further studies of this type.

text: Inter-propositional semantic relations and semantic relational encoding in written discourse in Maori: an investigation This thesis is an investigation of the various ways in which relationships of meaning between propositions (such as reason-result and temporal overlap) are encoded (as clauses, sentences and groups of sentences) and signalled in Maori.
In Chapter 1, the overall research topic and research questions are outlined.
Chapter 2 locates the research on inter-propositional semantic relations with reference to the concept of cohesion which is central to inter-propositional relational signalling and encoding. Here, reference is made to a number of relevant publications in the area.
Chapter 3 provides an introductory examination of the role of cohesion in the encoding and signalling of inter-propositional semantic relations in Maori.
Chapter 4 introduces a corpus of written texts and examines that corpus in terms of the ways in which inter-propositional semantic relations are encoded.
Chapter 5 examines a number of textbooks designed for learners of both English and Maori in terms of the extent to which they draw upon insights relating to the operation of inter-propositional semantic relations.
In Chapter 6, the research findings are summarised and their implications for aspects of the teaching and learning of Maori are discussed. In addition, suggestions are made in relation to future research possibilities.
Overall, the conclusion reached is that the study of semantic relational encoding and signalling in Maori texts reveals a number of aspects of language that appear not to be commonly taught and suggests the need for further studies of this type.

year: 2001