Well, this certainly veers into the bizarre, the weird and the surreal.
A new research study reveals 28% of adults say they've had at least one intimate or romantic relationship with artificial intelligence (AI).
We're talking about falling in love with ChatGPT, Alexa, Siri, Gemini and-or Character.ai.
Now, AI isn't going to give you any physical contact, but you can form an emotional and social bond with AI, you might fall in love, feel affection, intimacy and even long-term connection -- all hallmarks of a romantic relationship.
While a person may feel attraction with AI there will be no mutual attraction because AI, after all, isn't human.
54% of those surveyed also admitted to having some sort of a relationship with AI, be it as a friend, colleague or confidant.
The research study was done by Vantage Point Counseling Services, which operates out of Dallas.
Vantage Point used SurveyMonkey to poll 1,012 adults in the US over a cross-section of ages, gender and incomes.
So, we don't know how scientific this study actually is, but it provides an interesting and titillating look at how AI is infiltrating our lives, even our love lives.
The findings might also translate into how Canadians and British Columbians are feeling about AI because we have Alexa, Siri, Gemini, Character.ai and ChatGPT, too.
“We’re entering uncharted territory," said Michael Salas, owner of Vantage Point Counseling.
" These findings show that AI is becoming a source of comfort, novelty, and even intimacy. That raises new questions for couples, therapists, and society about fidelity, loneliness, and what we really seek in connection.”
Half of adults over age 60 say AI intimacy is not cheating on human partners, while younger adults are more likely to call it cheating or unacceptable.
“Cheating isn’t just about physical contact because it also includes secrecy, deception, and breaking agreements," said Salas.
"For some couples, an AI relationship feels harmless. For others, it crosses a line. The important part is having honest conversations about where those boundaries are.”
The survey also showed that adults in successful human relationships are actually more likely to pursue intimacy with AI.
“Curiosity and novelty are major drivers here," explained Salas.
"Even people in fulfilling human relationships may explore AI intimacy, not because something is missing, but because it feels safe, low-stakes, and intriguing. That doesn’t always mean dissatisfaction because sometimes, it can mean exploration.”
But, like any relationship substitute, AI intimacy comes with risks.
"It can become addictive, reinforce avoidance of conflict, or set unrealistic expectations for human partners," summed up Salas.
"These patterns can make it harder to form or sustain healthy human connections.”
See the full study here.
