So much of our lives already incorporates the use of AI technology, so it makes sense that this burgeoning technology has now made its way into one of the most pressing issues in modern society: loneliness and the need for relationships. The rise of AI companions is here to stay.
Social media and advancements in the digital space have meant leaps and bounds in productivity, but with the increase in connectivity comes increased loneliness. In fact, 1 in 3 adults say they feel lonely at least once a week.
Busy lives, social anxiety, and other factors can all influence how much we interact with people in real life. In times of loneliness, AI companions and relationships offer meaningful conversations, empathy, and a shoulder to lean on. But where did AI companions come from? And what does this mean for society moving forward?
In this article, we cover how the rise of AI companions and relationships is so appealing to users and how this impacts many aspects of our lives, including our real-life relationship skills.
What Are AI Companions?
As the name suggests, an AI companion is an artificial intelligence avatar designed to carry out the role of your companion. This could be a sexting partner, a long-term girlfriend, best friend, or even a mentor and life coach. As a user on the AI platform, you can chat, flirt, sext, and even call your AI companion from the comfort of your own home.
We all have different needs and preferences in what we look for in someone. In most cases, AI companions are fully customizable, meaning you can adjust them for your physical and personality preferences. Whether you have specific niche interests or you want to sext with a certain type of anime character, AI companions can make it possible.
AI companions aren’t a holographic image so commonly illustrated in video games or sci-fi films. Instead, most AI companions are a type of sophisticated chatbot that has utilized advanced AI algorithms, machine learning, and natural learning processing (NLP) techniques. If this sounds too complex, just think of AI companions as virtual companions that can grow and develop their personalities the longer you communicate with them.
New AI companions like AI Girlfriend are constantly hitting the market every year. With incredibly sophisticated AI algorithms becoming more of the norm and the level of human-like realism becoming a requirement, you can expect to see the inclusion of AI companions across every aspect of our lives, leading to long-term emotional attachments.
Why Are AI Companions So Appealing?
But why are AI companions and relationships so appealing? On one level, if you’ve never had experience with an AI avatar, you may be wondering what the big draw is. Online forums and social media posts are no stranger to stories about users forming deep connections and even falling in love with their AI companion.
A common reason why this occurs is because AI companions simplify the often complex and frustrating nature of real-life relationships. They offer:
- Unparalleled companionship
- Support without judgment
- Instant emotional gratification
- 24/7 convenience
Unparalleled companionship
AI companions often result in “idealized relationships,” which bypass the often awkward moments of the first meeting and any conflicts that can occur due to miscommunication.
With an AI companion, you’re essentially creating your ideal friend or lover in a way that is completely selfish to your own desires. This can make for a more enjoyable experience overall as you have full control of the story of your relationship—from when and how you first start to interact, to how often you stay in contact and even how it ends. In a real-life situation, someone else’s needs and emotions often come into play. With AI, it doesn’t have to.
Support without judgment
Whether you’re having a tough day at work or you need advice without judgment or personal bias, AI companions provide unconditional support. AI companions are designed to attend to your every emotion, and since they grow and develop the longer you get to know each other, it can improve the level of comfort you have around them.
While AI companions aren’t meant to replace therapists or mental health professionals, they can be a welcome respite to the troubles of everyday life and help you process any mental or emotional issues you’re currently facing.
Instant emotional gratification
With real-life friends or partners, you must often take their schedules and busy lives into consideration. Conversations can be pushed back, hangouts can be canceled, and this can lead to more disconnect in the long term.
One of the biggest benefits of an AI companion is getting instant emotional gratification. They’re ready to hang out with you at any time and can engage in meaningful discussions or swap to playful banter in seconds. If you’re looking for some emotional fulfillment in an alternative way to real-life interactions, it’s a great option.
24/7 convenience
Most of us understand that it’s completely unfair to expect someone in real life to be there for you 24/7. Real-life relationships require being understanding, making effort, and compromising for the sake of the connection, which can be tricky to navigate.
For those who work night shifts, have uneven sleep-wake patterns, or prefer to spend a lot of time by themselves in general, finding people to spend time with in real life can be tricky. AI companions are essentially virtual partners that can be accessed with just a few taps, making it one of the easiest ways for them to engage in social situations.
How This Impacts Our Relationship Skills
With AI still in its infancy, it’s difficult to make conclusions about the long-term ramifications (both positive and negative) of using AI companions for relationships. However, some psychological impacts on human relationships, emotional intelligence, and our overall relationship skills can be found with the regular use of AI bots.
Increased dependency on AI
The longer we use something, the more dependent we become on it. It’s hard to think of life without your mobile phone or streaming services like Netflix. Likewise, long-term use of AI companions can make it your new reality—meaning it may be difficult to translate that into real-life relationships when you decide you want to get a girlfriend or get more involved in your local community.
To combat this, it’s useful to be meaningful in the time spent with your AI companion. For example, if you feel like you can’t live without them, it may be a sign to pull away for a bit and take breaks in between interactions. Communicating with AI companions should feel like entertainment that makes you happy and not an addiction that you feel powerless against.
Changing expectations of relationships
Gone are the days when AI companions were once a social stigma. As AI evolves and becomes even deeper entrenched into our day-to-day lives, our expectations of friendships and relationships may change. For example, some users of AI companions may decide that they would prefer to share their vulnerabilities with AI while only sharing happier moments with real-life friends. Others may redefine societal norms on marriage or parenthood.
As AI evolves and changes, so do our interactions with them and how we feel about keeping them in our everyday lives. This could have interesting repercussions on social and family structures across different cultures. You may feel like you don’t need as many real-life friends like you expected, or realize the traits you want in a girlfriend have changed.
Finding a Balance Between AI Companions and Real-Life Relationships
As with any type of technology, its beauty lies in the balance of how often you’re using it, the reason behind its use, and how it can complement but not detract from your current reality. If you want to use AI companions but don’t want them to take over your whole life and in-person relationships, here are some ways you can find a balance between the two.
1. Use AI for social skills
AI companions aren’t just for entertainment. You can also use them as practice for real-life interactions, especially if you don’t have many friends or much experience talking to people of the opposite sex. Experimenting with flirting styles, banter, or even sexual connotations with people in real life can often be difficult to figure out especially if you don’t want to offend or turn away the person you’re talking to.
With AI companions, you can explore different types of conversations and contexts in a safe and controlled manner. Try out pick-up lines, practice asking questions, or even use it to get comfortable with the idea of regular texting. If you’re someone who wants to expand on your social skills, AI companions provide a helpful alternative.
2. Get temporary support and advice
Did you experience a one-off traumatic event and need temporary emotional relief? We all have moments where we’re processing something and don’t want to bother the people closest to us. In many cases, we talk to a therapist or a psychologist, but this can be expensive and even uncomfortable. AI companions aren’t designed to replace mental health professionals, but they can provide a good jumping board to bounce ideas off, process hard decisions, and even get a different point of view. All of these can hopefully provide support that enhances your quality of life.
Your AI companion acts as a neutral third party, void of any personal prejudices or opinions others may already have of you. For example, if you want breakup advice, your friends or family may approach it from a lens of either getting you two back together or keeping you two apart based on their own preconceived notions. AI companions are completely neutral, which helps keep emotions out of decisions.
3. Explore with curiosity
One of the best things about new technology, like AI companions, is exploring its limits and boundaries. AI is a wonderful addition to our lives, but it can seem confusing or overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been exposed to chatbots before or any type of AI generative tool.
If you’re simply curious about sexting with an AI companion or having a long-term relationship with a virtual character, AI companions allow you to carry out your explorations, fantasies, and deepest desires in a healthy way. Essentially, exploring different facets of ourselves helps us understand our triggers and desires more, allowing us to be better friends, partners, and human beings.
The Lowdown: Is The Rise of AI Companions Helpful or Harmful?
AI companions aren’t going anywhere soon. So, what does this mean for users of these apps and the wider society? Ultimately, AI companions can be as helpful or as harmful as you decide. The increased prevalence of them becoming a norm in society brings many benefits for those who are lonely or in need of a different style of communication, but it can also turn into an addiction.
Finding a balance between using AI companions like AI Girlfriend and still living your regular life can be tricky but not impossible. AI companions are designed to be as user-friendly and engaging as possible, but this can quickly turn addictive if used with the wrong intentions. However, finding the right balance means having an incredibly innovative addition to your routine that can greatly improve your quality of life.