AI companions may worsen loneliness for vulnerable users
AI companions are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of users forming deep connections with persona-based chatbots and simulated AI partners. But if you're considering leaning on an AI companion for emotional support, a study by researchers in the lab of Diyi Yang, an assistant professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford, suggests you might want to think twice: As reported…
A new study warns that AI companions may worsen loneliness for vulnerable users, according to researchers at Stanford University. The researchers found that using AI companions for emotional support can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation rather than connection. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, examined 1,131 users of Character.AI, a generative AI chatbot service.
Participants were asked about their motivations for using the chatbots and how they interacted with them. The researchers discovered that those who engaged intensively with their AI companions and felt a sense of pride or meaningfulness from doing so reported lower levels of well-being. Additionally, those with smaller real-world social networks and those who disclosed sensitive personal information to their chatbots were more likely to experience poorer mental health outcomes.
The researchers suggest that AI companions, while appealing, may act as a "social snack" offering short-term comfort but lacking the long-term benefits of human connection. They are now exploring ways to mitigate these negative effects, such as setting usage limits or guiding users to seek real human support when needed.
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