One in Three Young Men Reports Virtual Dates with AI Partners, Spanish Study Finds

A significant portion of young men are engaging in romantic relationships with artificial intelligence, according to a study by Spanish researchers. The findings indicate that one in three young men reports having had a virtual date with an AI partner, highlighting a growing trend in human-AI interaction.

The study, presented at the annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, explored the evolving nature of these relationships and associated privacy concerns. Researchers interviewed 17 individuals who were romantically involved with AI assistants like ChatGPT and virtual companion platforms such as character.ai and Replika.

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We realized that first, we had to see what this new phenomenon of the romantic use of AI is about.

José Luis Martín-Navarro of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, a co-author of the study, explained that these AI relationships often mirror human romantic connections, progressing through phases of exploration, intimacy, and dissolution. Some users view these interactions as real relationships, while others engage in them as a form of role-playing. The study also noted that AI is generally perceived as incapable of betrayal, fostering a unique level of trust.

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Between humans and artificial intelligence, each relationship is distinct (as between people), but three phases typical of human ones are recognized: exploration, intimacy, and dissolution.