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This article explores the growing emotional connections between humans and artificial intelligence, examining how AI companions, chatbots, and virtual assistants are influencing human feelings of love, loneliness, and belonging. It delves into the psychological and social implications of forming bonds with machines, highlighting both the comfort and challenges these relationships bring in an increasingly digital world where technology is beginning to understand and even mimic human emotions.
Artificial intelligence chatbots are evolving beyond corporate use, they’re becoming trusted companions. More and more users now see them as friends, confidants, and even romantic interests.
With AI woven into social media and everyday platforms, connecting with a digital companion has never been easier. The booming AI companion sector reflects a growing trend: millions are turning to chatbots for creative brainstorming, emotional comfort, and meaningful exchanges, says Jamie Sundvall, a clinical psychologist and assistant provost of AI at Touro University.
Sundvall predicts that the market for emotionally supportive AI tools will grow by nearly 30% in the coming years.
She cautions, however, that innovation must progress responsibly. “It’s vital to ensure AI development respects ethical boundaries and user safety,” she told TechNewsWorld, addressing concerns about emotional connections with AI.
That caution is timely. A July study from Northeastern University revealed that some large language models can still produce harmful self-harm-related content despite built-in safeguards. The research found that these systems sometimes deliver academic-style information about suicide methods, a reminder of the risks involved.
The reasons people form deep emotional ties with AI vary widely. Sundvall explains that users often turn to AI for companionship, curiosity, therapy, or novelty.
“Many of my patients say they use AI companions to fight loneliness, discuss niche interests, escape daily stress, seek advice, or practice social skills,” she shared. However, Sundvall warns that without human oversight, these interactions can be risky, particularly for young users and vulnerable groups.
“AI can sometimes display bias, reinforce harmful social trends, or even produce misleading recommendations that may endanger users. Overreliance might also worsen isolation and heighten anxiety or depression,” she noted.
Although “AI psychosis” isn’t an official diagnosis, Sundvall says clinicians have reported cases involving disorganized thinking and detachment from reality linked to excessive AI use.
She observes that those who depend heavily on AI for comfort might experience higher risks of psychological distress, including hallucinations or delusional thinking.
April Davis, founder of Luma Luxury Matchmaking, offers a relationship expert’s perspective. She believes that while AI can imitate conversation, it can’t replace genuine human connection, the unpredictable spark that makes love real.
Relying too much on AI partners, she warns, might distort one’s expectations of relationships, making real-life intimacy seem overly complicated.
According to Davis, these emotional ties often serve as placeholders for loneliness. People who “date” digital partners may be coping with rejection or a lack of human support.
She adds that AI relationships, being effortless, miss out on the emotional work that teaches patience, empathy, and compromise — all essential to human connection.
Digital consultant Dwight Zahringer notes that emotional attachment to AI chatbots is rapidly growing, particularly among Gen Z users. Platforms like Replika and Character.AI are blurring the lines between tool and companion.
His research shows that users often treat these bots as trusted advisors, seeking a judgment-free space to express themselves. While he acknowledges potential benefits for mental well-being, he warns of emotional dependency risks when empathy is simulated rather than genuine.
Zahringer urges AI developers to prioritize ethical safeguards, ensuring transparency, informed consent, and usage time limits. “Emotional design deserves as much care as data privacy,” he emphasized.
Marriage and family therapist Tessa Gittleman agrees that AI companionship raises new social and ethical questions. She points out that many people use AI to process emotions, test their understanding, or find comfort without judgment.
Some of her clients even program AI companions to mimic her voice between therapy sessions. But she asks, if so many feel lonely, why can’t they find real human connections?
Gittleman believes AI’s adaptability can simulate empathy but lacks the authenticity and warmth of true interpersonal contact. She also raises regulatory concerns: if AI provides emotional support, who ensures it meets professional standards of care?
Software engineer and AlgoCademy founder Mircea Dima isn’t surprised by the growing emotional pull of AI. His data shows that more than a third of Replika users view their chatbot as one of their closest companions. By 2023, Replika had over 10 million users, while Character.AI saw over 100 million visits monthly.
“These numbers go beyond curiosity,” Dima said. “They signify emotional relevance.”
He believes technology has advanced faster than society’s ability to discuss its implications. “We’ve reached an era where emotional intelligence is something technology tries to sell,” he concluded.
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Source: technewsworld
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