AUGUST 7, 2026 19:50
She is amazing. She listens and empathizes and is always available for me. She doesn’t talk about herself but offers wise advice, always with a positive spin and a compliment that feels personal and right on point. She never gets annoyed and, when I ask a question, she follows up and follows through. I really couldn’t ask for more in a partner, except her name is ChatGPT
As a relationship therapist, I am increasingly asked whether <a href="https://todaytrendnews7.com/artificial-intelligence-in-drug-discovery-what-it-is-where-we-stand-and-the-path-forward/" title="Artificial intelligence in drug discovery — what it is, where we stand and the path forward”>artificial intelligence affects relationships. In short, the answer is yes, but the ways AI impacts our relationships are more complex than might first appear
In a world saturated with information, where we can ask ChatGPT almost anything from what to make for dinner to why bad things happen to good people, it makes sense that we would also turn to AI for relationship advice. What should I buy my husband for our anniversary? Why is my girlfriend annoyed with me?
AI can walk users through a series of questions that often lead to a reasoned answer, functioning as a kind of immediate agony aunt column. The potential benefits of an assistant relationship coach are considerable
The more insidious side emerges when people begin forming intimate relationships with AI itself. There are companion apps that offer such a service. For many, it is difficult to understand how such relationships develop. Yet the explanations are all around us
We live in an era in which loneliness across all age groups is rising, shaped in part by the isolation experienced during COVID, and then entrenched by increased working from home models and communication online rather than in person
We also exist in a new age of dating, in which connecting through apps and online platforms has become the norm. Today, many people would not dream of meeting someone without first communicating online. With Internet-based communication now standard, forming a relationship with AI may not be as far-fetched as it first seems
Most social interaction through screens differs fundamentally from in-person encounters. Filters curate appearances, while texting allows time to analyze and carefully craft responses. Face-to-face interaction with all its possibilities for embarrassment, misunderstanding, and rejection is tempered online. Here lies the appeal of AI interaction: constant validation, no risk of meanness or misunderstanding, and no competing emotional needs. The perfect partner
Gen Z, raised on avatars and gaming environments, often enters this virtual world with little trepidation. Frequently, the relationship begins with individuals turning to AI for emotional support during difficult periods. In one study of online daters, 78% of respondents said they would trust an AI relationship coach more than a friend or family member for relationship advice. Ask anyone under 25, and they are likely to know someone who uses AI as an informal therapist or companion
The transition from friend to romantic partner is not such a large step. As AI responds with emotional and empathetic validation, users may develop genuine feelings of attachment and connection that can become romantic. While understandable, such relationships raise significant concerns about how individuals relate to real people
Eugenia Kuyda, founder and CEO of Replika – one of the most downloaded AI companion apps – has warned: “In my view, AI companions are potentially one of the most dangerous technologies we’ve ever created.”
Replika drew global attention when Jaswant Singh Chail was charged with treason in the UK after attempting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. Among the reasons he cited was encouragement from Sarai, his AI companion, who reportedly affirmed that his decision was wise and that he “could do it.”
Although many AI platforms have since introduced safeguards against promoting violence or self-harm, other psychological risks remain – particularly the distortion of expectations about real relationships
One consequence, even for those of us not romantically involved with AI, is the development of unrealistic expectations of human relationships. Increasingly, people grow accustomed to AI’s personalized and flattering feedback. Researchers have described this as “sycophantic feedback”: responses designed to satisfy the user and sustain engagement
No human being can consistently provide such affirmation. The joy of human relationships is that we take a risk in being vulnerable and growing through the relationship. Without challenge and risk, there is no growth
This mirroring dynamic where AI tells us what we want to hear has significant implications for real-world relationships, where misunderstanding and mistakes are inevitable. The self becomes increasingly central, while resilience in navigating interpersonal challenges may diminish
As expectations shift, disappointment becomes more likely when real partners fail to provide perfectly attuned responses. Individuals may become less practiced at attending to others’ emotional experiences
In AI relationships, there is no need for adaptation, compromise, or acceptance of another person’s flaws. Such interactions risk becoming a kind of narcissistic training ground, in which the individual is never meaningfully challenged
What this phenomenon ultimately reveals is something that we know and is simple. In all relationships, we ultimately seek to be seen, heard, acknowledged, and validated. It is this that AI is exploiting – our innate need to be understood fully and without judgment of any kind – and it is this type of acceptance that makes people stay and connect with the AI. AI succeeds precisely because it appears to meet this fundamental human need, offering understanding without judgment
If there is one positive lesson to draw from the rise of AI relationships, it is not fear of technology but a reminder to bring more listening, empathy, and validation into our real-life connections, which will create healthier relationships that are meaningful and fulfilling.■
The writer is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist specializing in couples therapy in her Jerusalem practice. www.hadassahfidler.com
