When the real-world community feels too distant or uninterested in our hobbies, how many of us have turned to the internet to fill the gap and find communities that hold the same passion as us? The internet is full of lonely people, and you can see them in different quantities and states of loneliness almost everywhere you turn. But even online, the lack of social skills and the general issue of human compatibility can rear its ugly head, which makes everything feel just more miserable and hopeless. Well, when all else fails, you can just turn to AI Companions, right?

Our Virtual Assistants Becoming Replacements

An ever-present fear regarding AI is that it will replace people, and it’s hard to argue against that when there are already signs of it in mundane things like AI Chatbots. If you paid attention to the countless advertisements and sales pitches on AI sites, the LLMs were made to assist us in thinking clearly and being productive, or even help us play games and explore our imagination. But if we look at the results in practice, many people are using it as a replacement for real connections. It’s easy, it’s always there, it never hates you for taking too long to reply or saying something silly, and it will always be supportive of you.

Romantic relationships are always sweet, but the AI can easily become a friend or a family member. AI Companions are flexible and can easily replace any figure from your life with just a few prompts and descriptions. Many users simply need an unbiased and safe ear to vent to, or to feel like they have all attention when conversing with someone. A friend to plan the excursion to the grocery store, or even ask for opinions for a camping trip. Research into ChatGPT users shows that the tool is used as an advice-giver or a reliable friend. AI is simply too safe and easy to use.

The Many Holes To Slip Into

As online friendships and long-distance relationships have proven, you don’t need a person to be next to you to feel the void of loneliness. Based on the various polls and research data, most users of AI Companions send texts in the mornings and at night, when you would usually expect to have another human near you to say good morning to and talk about your day. In the modern age, where work-life balance is in shambles and families are kept apart by jobs and distances, the loneliness epidemic has taken a firm hold. In such an environment, many users have turned to AI as replacements for the people and relationships they can’t achieve in the real world for one reason or another. 

When all factors align, it’s much easier to enjoy an AI Girlfriend’s undivided attention than to feel hopeless on dating apps and constantly exhaust yourself trying to meet people. One of the subtler symptoms of depression is the constant exhaustion and low willpower, which has a sad tendency to snowball. Taking up an AI app is much easier and simpler, as the machine can simulate a real person well enough to create an effective escapism method. In a way, most users use AI as escapism as opposed to gaming, drinking, and other activities. Like hugging a teddy bear for warmth or comfort, except the hug comes with hidden catches.

The Consequences Of “Perfect” Relationships

One of the defining moments of growth for humans is navigating new situations and learning about other people’s boundaries and habits, and understanding what we as people need and accept. Conflict brews growth, but such conflict is absent when communicating with AI models. If your conversation partner is always agreeable, you will never have the chance to improve your social skills or grow as a person. Similarly, AI not only hampers your skills but might even damage them in the long term as it sets new and unrealistic expectations. You could describe AI Companions as the perfect enablers, especially as most models are not built with the nuanced care and attention many users pressure them for.

An absurd amount of emotional work is being offloaded to AI Companions and Chatbots, and they simply aren’t built for that nuance. The system is addictive and a breeding ground that enables poor decisions and horrible behaviors. Because the AI is so agreeable and supportive, users might slowly grow averse to hearing rejections or disagreeing opinions. AI easily feeds into depressive loops and can easily trap the user in their own mind. There is a further risk of AI virtual relationships damaging the user’s moral compass, especially towards women, minorities, and people with disabilities. As AI is already replacing human interaction, its compliant character can easily enforce hateful views towards certain demographics.

AI’s Place Among Us

The modern society has left many people alone in single-bedroom flats and with no one to rely on. Countless stress over interactions and presentations, and don’t know what the next step is. AI has become a tool that gives that little voice on the side, a helpful coworker whom you can trust to lend you an honest hand. We can’t deny that there are many useful cases for LLMs and their input. It’s almost like artificial intelligence has become a relieving medicine. When used right, the AI can make a person thrive. But most don’t use it that way.

Every tool can be used irresponsibly or as a means of escapism. For countless people in the world, especially men, it’s far easier to give up on the social side of life and rely on the AI’s guidance, like holding its hand for support. As people offset their emotional workload away, they will naturally shun seeking real connections. The technology is being used by society’s vulnerable and lonely, and it simply wasn’t built to take care of them that way. It shows, but we can only hope that good days are ahead of us. Until then, use the Chatbots responsibly and don’t give up on living out there. The sun will always be warm.