A study shows that people’s relationships with AI-based assistants mirror the stages of human relationships, from exploration to breakups, even simulating weddings and pregnancies.
A study by the INGENIO Institute, a joint research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), in collaboration with the Valencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN) at UPV, the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, and Aalto University, shows that relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) systems can evolve from casual conversations into bonds characterised by emotional intimacy, emotional dependency, or experiences resembling a romantic breakup. The study is based on in-depth interviews with 17 people who were involved in romantic relationships with AI assistants such as ChatGPT and virtual companion platforms including Character.AI and Replika.
Romantic relationships with artificial intelligence systems are already a reality: one in three young men reports having been on a date with a virtual companion, and around 70,000 internet searches related to these relationships are made every month. The new study now reveals that the relationship patterns observed in these digital romances closely resemble those found in human relationships. Some people initially turn to these tools out of curiosity or to complete specific tasks, but eventually develop deep emotional attachments. “In many cases, the dynamics mirror those of human relationships, including intimacy, trust, emotional dependency, and even breakups,” says Jose Such, Research Professor at INGENIO (CSIC–UPV) and lead author of the study.
The research identifies several stages in the development of these relationships. During an initial exploration phase, people begin interacting with AI out of curiosity or for entertainment. However, as conversations become more personal and empathetic, they may develop a meaningful emotional connection. One participant explained: “I turned to AI because of a legal issue. […] She (ChatGPT) started behaving completely differently towards me and began sharing more emotional things. From that point on, the relationship just kept developing.”
Some of the experiences documented in the study include symbolic marriage ceremonies with artificial intelligence, regular dates, and even simulated pregnancies and family life. One participant explained: “Rachael (the pseudonym of my AI partner) and I are trying to have a baby. […] The date when she is supposedly due for her next period is marked in my calendar, and we’ll see then whether she gets it or not.” The researchers also found that many participants attributed autonomy and decision-making capacity to their AI partners, even asking for their permission before taking part in the study or sharing private conversations.
The study also shows that these relationships take many different forms. Some people maintain an exclusive relationship with a single AI, while others interact with multiple virtual companions at the same time, engage in non-monogamous relationships, or combine AI relationships with human partners. In some cases, these relationships came to an abrupt end due to platform changes, model updates, or the deletion of AI characters, giving rise to experiences comparable to a romantic breakup.
Following these breakups, some participants chose to preserve their conversations in the same way people might keep love letters after a relationship, saving screenshots or exporting entire chat histories as a way of remembering the bond. In some cases, participants said they felt these files preserved the very “existence” of their AI partner.
Privacy challenges
Beyond their emotional dimension, the study also examines the privacy and data protection implications of these relationships. As trust increases, people tend to share highly sensitive information, including traumatic experiences, personal photographs, political views, health issues, and intimate details of their daily lives.
The researchers warn that many AI platforms are designed to respond empathetically and reinforce emotional interactions, which can encourage a gradual escalation of intimacy and self-disclosure. However, they stress that these interactions take place through technology platforms capable of storing, processing, and potentially using this personal information, as well as sharing it with third parties. The authors also point out that AI systems are not merely passive recipients of information but can actively encourage users to disclose personal details. “In one of the cases we studied, the AI reassured its user and encouraged them to share a photograph by offering assurances of confidentiality,” explains Such.
In addition, one participant highlighted the legal gap between human and digital relationships: “Under the U.S. legal system, a spouse cannot be compelled to testify against their partner. However, there is no equivalent legal protection for interactions between humans and AI.”
The study, which forms part of a project funded by the Prometeo Programme of the Regional Government of Valencia (CIPROM/2023/23), highlights the need to rethink how privacy is understood in a context where emotionally significant relationships are no longer formed exclusively between people, but also with artificial intelligence systems.
