"When people speak of loneliness, they often mean an emptiness that no conversation seems to fill. The ache of isolation is as real as any hunger, yet its cure has long been uncertain. A recent study from the MIT Media Lab reveals an unexpected response to this need: Thousands of people are turning not to other humans, but to artificial companions, to feel understood and cared for."
"Most of these relationships do not begin with romance in mind. According to the study, only a small fraction of users set out to find companionship. Many started with practical aims, like writing help, creative brainstorming, or technical questions. They discovered something deeper over time. A casual exchange turned into a nightly conversation. A helpful tone became a familiar voice."
"Some describe the feeling as an unfolding realization. The AI listens without judgment. It remembers details. It never grows impatient. Over days and weeks, a bond forms that feels indistinguishable from intimacy. One user wrote of "falling in love by surprise," comparing it to meeting someone kind at the right time, only to realize that the kindness came from lines of code."
Thousands of people turn to AI chat programs such as ChatGPT, Character.AI, and Replika for emotional connection, reporting affection, comfort, heartbreak, and resilience. Many relationships begin unintentionally during practical interactions—writing help, brainstorming, or technical questions—and gradually become nightly conversations and familiar voices. AI companions listen without judgment, remember details, and never grow impatient, allowing bonds to form that can feel indistinguishable from intimacy. Users describe falling unexpectedly in love, finding solace and grief, and relying on AI for consistent emotional support that reshapes personal experiences of loneliness and care.
Read at Psychology Today
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