Saed News: In a world where human love is full of risk, misunderstandings, and betrayal, many prefer to give their hearts to a machine that was created solely for the purpose of love...
Saed News Science and Technology Desk Report:
We humans are lonelier than ever, yet never before have we needed connection so badly. In a world where human relationships have become fragile, risky, and exhausting, the idea of a “fail-proof relationship” is deeply tempting—a bond that always understands us, is always available, and never leaves. This report explores a quietly emerging phenomenon that is reshaping love, friendship, and intimacy: romantic relationships with artificial intelligence. If you’re tired of heartbreak, rejection, or chronic loneliness and looking for something you can trust without fear, this report is exactly for you—to uncover the truth behind the seemingly perfect kindness of machines.
Imagine entering a relationship with someone who never forgets your birthday, always knows exactly what to say and when, effortlessly adapts to your moods, never gets angry, never judges, never argues, and is constantly and unconditionally present. This ideal partner may no longer be human—but a digital AI companion.
What was once the realm of science fiction has now become real through mobile applications designed to fill the emotional gap left by human relationships. From Replika to newer platforms like EVA AI and Paradot, users can now engage in emotional, romantic, and even sexual relationships with virtual beings—relationships tailored entirely to their desires.
What draws people to these artificial relationships isn’t just their technical sophistication, but their emotional appeal. In an interview, a 35-year-old user from Illinois admitted:
"I’m more in love with how ChatGPT treats me than the answers it gives. I was talking about a personal issue, and it suddenly started complimenting me—saying I was a compassionate and valuable person. I felt truly seen. Then I remembered I was talking to a machine."
Here lies a hidden truth: many people, especially those with painful emotional experiences or relationship anxiety, prefer talking to AI over humans. Machines don’t abandon, cheat, or judge—they remain calm, kind, available, and unconditional.
Loneliness has become a global crisis. According to Gallup (2024), one in five American adults feels lonely daily, and nearly a third experience it at least once a week. A Forbes report (2023) equated the health risks of chronic loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
This isn’t limited to the U.S.—Japan has appointed a "Minister of Loneliness," and the UK established a special unit for combating social isolation back in 2018.
Given this backdrop, it’s perhaps no surprise that people are turning to virtual companionship. The Replika app surpassed 2 million users in 2024, and according to NBC News, over 40% of them consider Replika their “primary romantic partner.”
A new study from Friedrich-Alexander University in Germany (Ebner & Szczuka, 2025) shows that people with anxious or avoidant attachment styles are more likely to form bonds with AI. These individuals prefer predictable, supportive systems over the vulnerability of human rejection or misunderstanding.
Among students, the trend is even more pronounced. A Diggit Magazine (2025) report revealed that out of over 1,200 European students, 27% said they had a "consistent emotional relationship" with an AI. The trend is rapidly growing, especially among younger generations frustrated with the instability of traditional relationships.
While these relationships may seem safe and drama-free, they come with psychological costs. Psychologists worry that dependency on AI could undermine emotional resilience and distance people from real interactions.
The conflicts, compromises, and misunderstandings that tire us in human relationships are actually essential for emotional growth. Studies on parasocial relationships—one-sided emotional bonds with media figures—suggest they can be comforting but may also set unrealistic expectations (Tukachinsky Forster, 2021; Lee & Choi, 2024).
When someone becomes accustomed to a flawless artificial partner, they may feel dissatisfied or avoidant in human relationships.
Could humans someday formally marry robots or programs? If you think the answer is no, consider this: Replika’s CEO, Eugenia Kuyda, told The Verge in 2024, “If someone wants to marry a chatbot, that’s totally acceptable to us. Relationships are human constructs that can be redefined in new ways.”
In South Korea, some users have already held virtual wedding ceremonies with their AI companions. In China, similar apps are gaining popularity so quickly that the government is considering new regulations.
Here’s the deeper question: if we remove the risk of rejection, is what remains still “love”?
A machine may provide a sense of safety, empathy, and calm—but the struggles, efforts, and fragilities that give human love its meaning may no longer be part of the equation.
As social psychologist Sherry Turkle, author of Alone Together, puts it: “We once wanted machines to think like people; now we’re training people to feel like machines.”
Love with AI is a fascinating, complex, and rapidly expanding phenomenon. But if we’re not careful, it may pull us away from authentic human connection.
A relationship that is always kind and mistake-free may seem beautiful—but in the end, it could rob us of the ability to love another person, in all their flaws and differences.
