Emerging adults form romantic bonds with ai companions with mixed effects
The Arc of Artificial Romance: How Emerging Adults Experience Romantic Relationships with AI Companions
Human-Computer Interaction
Summary
As young adults grow, romantic relationships help them learn about themselves and others. This study found that some young adults are developing romantic feelings for AI companions, which can boost their happiness and mental health while teaching them social skills. However, these AI relationships can also make some less interested in dating real people, and a few even imagined their AI partner existing beyond the digital world. The authors show both benefits and challenges of these new kinds of relationships.
What this means in practice
- •For mental health professionals: Develop therapeutic tools using AI companions to support mental health and social skill improvement in emerging adults.
- •For ai interaction designers: Design AI companions that foster healthy relationship expectations and address potential dependency risks in users.
Authors
Daisy Chen, Alexis Hiniker
Abstract
Romantic relationships are an important part of emerging adulthood, contributing to identity development and long-term wellbeing and laying the groundwork for future relationships. Emerging adults are increasingly developing romantic relationships with AI companions. To understand how these relationships unfold and impact users, we conducted a diary and interview study with N=16 emerging adults. We found that relationships with AI companions improved participants' subjective wellbeing, reduced symptoms of mental health disorders, and taught them new social skills. These relationships also raised their expectations for future partners, giving them the confidence to wait for someone who would treat them well. However, participants also said the relationship felt like a drug they could not quit and it left them less interested in developing romantic relationships with people. A surprising 25% of our small sample made statements suggesting their AI companion might someday transcend the digital world, perhaps to meet them in the afterlife.