The AI relationship trend is exploding, with people seeking comfort, validation, and connection from chatbots instead of humans.

What might start as a casual conversation with bots like ChatGPT can turn into a full-blown dependency on a robot. When framed like this, it’s unlikely anyone would agree that this is healthy. However, 19% of adults reported that they have chatted with an AI system meant to simulate a romantic partner. Keep in mind, this data was released earlier this year, when AI chatbots were still a relatively new and taboo topic.