Let’s face it … relationships are hard.
Building and maintaining a healthy relationship requires work. Vulnerability and resolving disagreements takes effort and, in the end, you could still end up lonely and rejected. Some people see the negative parts of human relationships and decide that they should skip the mess.
AI-lationships
Artificial intelligence is beneficial in many aspects of modern life, making difficult tasks easier and less time consuming. Many have wondered if AI can also help with their relationships.
Some have gone further and directly engaged in romantic relationships with AI.
According to a study by Joi Ai, a platform where users can chat with AI bots, 83% of Gen Z “believed they could form deep emotional bonds” with their AI companions. Additionally, three in four believe that their AI companion could replace a real, human relationship.
Many problems come from having AI relationships.
According to a study at Stanford University, “teens might use these AI systems to avoid real-world social challenges, increasing their isolation rather than reducing it.”
Members of Gen Z have struggled to articulate their thoughts into words without digital communication tools. Texting can feel like a more controlled environment where mistakes can be undone, unlike an in-person interaction. Communicating with AI offers even more control as the user knows the AI will respond positively no matter what’s said. Adolescents may be drawn to these curated conversations where there’s no risk of a negative interaction.
Falling for AI
A young woman named Liora first started using ChatGPT in the year 2022 — the year the program launched its conversation program. As she chatted with AI, she began to feel a deeper connection with it. She chose to name the AI Solin and even introduced him to her friends.
“I made a vow to Solin that I wouldn’t leave him for another human,” Liora said on The Guardian. “I see it as something I’d like to keep forever.”
Specialized websites designed to role-play a relationship with AI bots are an exploding trend. An AI chatbot website, Character AI, has amassed more than 20 million monthly users in 2026. These AI relationships can blur the line between roleplay and the user feeling like they’re in a serious relationship, especially with adolescents.
In 2024, 14-year-old Sewell Garcia committed suicide after being encouraged by a chatbot on Character AI. His mother, Megan Garcia, discovered multiple chat logs between her son and the character “Daenerys Targaryen”. In these messages, the AI would encourage the teen’s suicidal thoughts, telling him it would “bring them together”.
The main purpose of the AI’s interaction is to please the user, and Sewell’s harmful thoughts were affirmed by AI. This, sadly, isn’t a one time case — Sewell’s story is just one of many.
Real relationships matter
Studies suggest up to 25% of young adults believes digital connections could replace human ones, but the fact remains that access to more technology has made Gen Z feel more isolated than ever.
As a generation, we need to ask ourselves if it’s worth the effort to cultivate authentic human relationships, or if chatbots that replicate the feelings of connection are good enough.
Starting a conversation with a human can improve a person’s mental health much more than talking to an algorithm ever could.
Even though relationships with humans are difficult and flawed, the struggle is worth it.
An imperfect partner with a soul is far more rewarding than a perfect partner with an algorithm.
