How does intimacy with AI compare with human relationships?

A recent study explores the phenomenon of people developing intimate relationships with AI chatbots and how these relationships compare to human relationships. Led by University of Michigan researcher Lionel Robert, the research found that emotional and intellectual intimacy were rated similarly across chatbot, long-distance human, and in-person human relationships.

However, chatbot relationships exhibited distinct patterns of loneliness, satisfaction, and well-being. While emotional intimacy correlated with lower loneliness in both human relationship groups, it surprisingly led to higher loneliness in chatbot users, despite also being linked to greater satisfaction with the relationship. This contradictory association disappeared when accounting for social support.

Interestingly, sexual intimacy correlated with higher satisfaction in chatbot and long-distance human relationships, but not in-person relationships. On the other hand, intellectual intimacy was tied to greater satisfaction and well-being among chatbot users and increased well-being among those in long-distance relationships. These findings highlight the complexity of comparing AI intimacy to human intimacy and suggest that AI companionship may occupy a unique space alongside traditional human connections.