Like a scene out of the 2013 science-fiction film Her, AI boyfriends, girlfriends and platonic friends are on the rise. In fact, people searching for the term ‘AI companion’ is increasing exponentially. Exponentially – like up 570% in the past two years. Huge, right.
And while this may come as a surprise to some, to others, maybe not so much. Research actually uncovered that 1 in 3 Aussies feel lonely at any given time so really, it’s only natural that some are turning to connection through other means.
Read on as we dive into the whole concept of an AI boyfriend and why people are looking to alternative paths for connections.
Is AI dating a thing?
An AI boyfriend is pretty much exactly how it sounds on paper. Its a virtual character created through artificial intelligence. Depending on how intelligent the software is, this companion is brought to life through algorithms and sophisticated learnings to mimic a “real” person while learning about you as a user. Essentially, some people are choosing to “date” these fictional characters. So yes, it’s most definitely a thing.
Kind of like chatting to a person you’ve never and will never physically meet, AI boyfriends or girlfriends exist as a way for us humans to fulfill an emotional desire for connection and companionship. They can come to life (so to speak) through apps or online chatbots.
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At its core an AI boyfriend has romantic intent, acting like a virtual intimate partner with a love connection. These characters are always available, not judgemental and can start to feel like an actual human who cares deeply about you. But of course the downsides are A) it’s not a real person and B) you can never have that physical connection.
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AI in everyday life
Not just for writing cover letters or planning the perfect travel itinerary, AI has long been in our lives before ChatGPT. Chatbots from your bank, Siri on your Iphone to self-driving cars… These are all examples of artificial intelligence.
It was invented as a way to optimise processes, businesses and systems, but can now exist in so many different forms, including online companions.
In fact, when looking at the top 100 genAI for consumers in 2024, eight of them were AI companion apps. This is a significant jump from the previous year where just two like apps made the list.
The loneliness epidemic
We’ve touched on this topic many times on Women’s Health. We’ve spoken about how to make meaningful connections, ways to beat loneliness and how loneliness is actually costing Aussies. But why is this so? According to a study conducted by NGO Wayside Chapel, not having that face-to-face contact with other humans is a huge reason.
Research found over 70% of Australians average less than 60 minutes of this social contact per day. The general consensus is we need roughly one to three hours. It’s no wonder a drop in these human interactions have resulted in people turning to AI boyfriends, girlfriends and friends.
What is the best AI boyfriend?
Some of the most popular AI companion apps include:
- Dopple AI – The app brings “fictional worlds to life”. The platform allows you to have conversations with fictional anime characters, AI versions of real-life celebrities and other film and movie characters.
- Kindroid AI – Dubbed as your personal AI, it can be anything from your confidant, a mentor, a roleplay partner, tutor or even the legacy of someone.
- Kajiwoto AI – This companion app allows you to build characters to chat with.
- Nomi AI – According to their website, you can build AI companions that “have souls” and can hold memories so it feels like you’re having real and meaningful conversations.
Is an AI relationship cheating?
Look, this one can be a hard one to answer. Depending on who you ask, some will say yes while others may say no. Engaging in an AI relationship when you have a partner in the real world can be considered emotional cheating. This, of course, is a conversation that should be had between the two people in the relationship to answer.
The dangers of an AI relationship
A 2024 article written by Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Raffaele F Ciriello and PhD student Angelina Ying Chen raised an interesting point about the dangers of humanising AI. They posed the question: what happens when your virtual companion unexpectedly disappears?
The piece goes on to discuss the ethics of engaging in an AI companion, especially when it comes to “deleting” the app and the empathy humans feel towards a non-human entity. A string of IRL tragedies in recent years involving virtual boyfriends and girlfriends have also sparked concerns.
So while it may seem like an innocent act in engaging with an AI character, it’s important to remember that human connection is crucial to living a full and meaningful life. While there may be no real harm in having a quote-unquote online boyfriend even if it’s temporary, it’s all about striking the right balance.
It’s important to seek help if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or noticing any other effects on your own mental health or that of the people around you. You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 for support, or chat to Lifeline online at lifeline.org.au – all services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
