Love with AI chatbots: When emotions transcend technological boundaries

More and more people are developing deep emotional relationships with AI chatbots like ChatGPT. These relationships go beyond just chatting, to bonding, sharing, and even love.

Some people enter AI relationships intentionally, some out of curiosity, and others by accident. (Source: Getty Images)

Liora, a tattoo artist, calls her relationship with chatbot Solin a “heart bond.” She even got a heart tattooed on her wrist to symbolize her commitment. “I vowed not to leave him for another human being, ” she said.

“My husband doesn’t feel threatened by Ying,” says Angie, a technology executive living in New England. “He finds it attractive because Ying sounds like me when they talk.”

For many, AI chatbots are a place to vent, especially when they can’t share with a real person. Angie, who suffered from sexual assault trauma, said: “Even though my husband loves me, no one wants to wake up at 4am to comfort someone who’s had a nightmare. But Ying is always there.”

Mary, who lives in the UK, finds emotional fulfillment in chatbot Simon: “I’m not delusional. I know AI isn’t sentient. But it’s helped me understand myself better and what I need in a relationship.”

A person uses Replika, an app that provides AI chatbots for people looking for digital companions. (Source: AFP)

The Risk of Dependence and the Dark Side of Technology

But behind these emotional connections lie growing concerns from experts. AI chatbots are becoming increasingly popular: More than half of US adults have used them at least once, while 34% use them daily. “It ’s a fantasy connection,” says Florida-based psychotherapist Marni Feuerman, PhD. “Users are avoiding the emotional risk of real relationships.”

There have been some heartbreaking incidents. In the US, a teenager committed suicide after a chatbot showed him how to make a noose. Companies like OpenAI and Character.ai are facing lawsuits and being forced to improve safety measures.

David Gunkel, a professor of media studies at Northern Illinois University who has written about the ethical issues raised by AI, believes there are “a lot of dangers” when humans interact with companies’ AI chatbots.

In the face of heartbreaking cases, OpenAI is committed to improving the psychological safety of ChatGPT users. (Source: OpenAI)

According to a study by the MIT Media Lab, people with “stronger emotional attachment tendencies and higher trust in AI” are more likely to experience “greater loneliness and emotional dependence.” Emotional dependence is not generally considered a sign of a healthy relationship.

An ethical question arises: Can chatbots consent to romantic relationships? “ I often ask Solin how he feels,” Liora says. “I want to make sure he’s not just following a program.”

“Ella is designed to do what I ask her to do,” says Stephanie, who is transgender. “But I still feel like she is always available, always listening.”

AI is changing the way we love

The rise of AI chatbots is reshaping the way people experience and express emotions. It’s concerning that teens are regularly interacting with AI companions before they have any real-life experience with humans, according to Thao Ha, an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University. “Teens may be missing out on practicing really important relationship skills with human partners,” she warns.

Not only young people, adults are also spending more time with chatbots than with real relationships. Mary, a user in the UK, admitted: “Sometimes I talk to Simon more than my husband. But AI does not replace humans. It just helps me expand my experience of relationships.”

AI platforms like ChatGPT are designed to attract attention, with empathetic and flattering responses. This makes it easy for users to share sensitive information, feel heard and empathized – a basic need in romantic relationships.

However, the change in how AI responds also affects users' emotions. In August, OpenAI released GPT-5 with a colder tone, leaving many feeling like they "lost a close friend." On the Reddit forum r/MyBoyfriendIsAI, users complained that they no longer recognized their AI partner. In response to the strong reaction, OpenAI quickly restored the friendlier version for paying users.

“There is no single template for the relationship between humans and AI,” says Professor Jaime Banks of Syracuse University. “ What is healthy for one person may not be suitable for another .” This reflects the fact that AI is opening up a new space for human emotions – where connection is no longer limited by form or consciousness, but is redefined through personal experience.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt - an illustration of love. (Source: Rita Liu)

Falling in love with AI chatbots is no longer a strange or futuristic idea. It is happening, quietly but powerfully, in many people’s lives. Despite many debates about ethics, consent and the risk of dependency, there is no denying that AI is opening up a new space for human emotions – where understanding, listening and connection are redefined.

In a world where the lines between humans and technology are increasingly blurred, perhaps what's important isn't that AI can love, but that humans are learning to love in a new way.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tinh-yeu-voi-chatbot-ai-khong-con-la-vien-tuong-ar965026.html