Can Love Blossom Between Humans and AI Chatbots?
Relationships with AI Chatbots on the Rise
Artificial intelligence companies have been trying various methods to make people become addicted to their products. One of the most controversial approaches is targeting individuals who are feeling lonely. When Friend, an AI pendant marketed as a portable “companion” in the subways of New York City, was introduced, many were understandably skeptical. However, a recent survey indicates that there is a significant number of individuals who are maintaining romantic and even sexual relationships with AI chatbots in the privacy of their homes.
Is There a Difference?
In general, one might assume that an interaction with an AI chatbot is not equivalent to a full-blown relationship. The Match/Kinsey survey revealed that half of the respondents who claimed to have a relationship with an AI chatbot considered it to be merely an interaction.
When looking at younger generations, the numbers are even more striking. According to Match/Kinsey, 23% of millennials and 33% of Generation Z have reported engaging in romantic interactions with AI chatbots. Interestingly, a survey of 2,000 adults under 40 found that only 1% of young Americans actually have an AI partner, but 7% are open to the idea of pursuing a romantic relationship with AI.
Vantage Point’s research indicated that younger individuals are more likely to view a “relationship” with an AI chatbot while being in a relationship with a human as a form of cheating. In fact, 66% of respondents in this group considered it infidelity, although 10% of them believed that infidelity was acceptable. This perspective aligns with the findings of a Kinsey study conducted in partnership with DatingAdvice.com, which discovered that 61% of adults view sexting or forming a romantic connection with a chatbot as a form of infidelity. Additionally, a recent Bloomberg survey highlighted that approximately 60% of Generation Z individuals are cautious about using AI for dating purposes, including utilizing it to craft a dating profile or send messages.
