BYU Study Finds 15% of Young Adults in Relationships Use AI Chatbots Secretly
Updated
Updated · KSL.com · May 19
BYU Study Finds 15% of Young Adults in Relationships Use AI Chatbots Secretly
1 articles · Updated · KSL.com · May 19
A survey of 2,431 U.S. adults ages 18 to 30 found about 1 in 7 people in committed relationships regularly use an AI romantic companion, with more than 20% saying they had at least experimented with one.
More than half of users said they fully hid or only partly disclosed that activity to their partner, and nearly 70% said it was important their partner never learned the full extent.
The study linked romantic chatbot use to weaker real-life relationship dynamics, including lower communication quality and a 46% lower likelihood of being in a stable relationship.
Researchers said AI companions gain traction by offering immediate validation, explicit content and controllable interactions that can feel easier than working through conflict with a real partner.
The BYU-backed report said those one-sided exchanges can foster emotional dependence and unrealistic expectations, with about half of users wishing their partner acted more like the chatbot.
With 15% of young adults secretly using AI lovers, is technology exposing a crisis in modern relationships?
As AI companions learn to perfectly mirror our desires, are we losing the ability to love real people?
AI Love Affairs: 31% of Young Men and 23% of Young Women Report Chatting with AI Partners—Impacts and Ethical Dilemmas
Overview
Young adults are increasingly forming emotional and romantic connections with AI companions, as these apps simulate humanlike interactions through customizable characters. This trend is supported by a high level of comfort with AI technology—74% of young adults in the U.S. used an AI chatbot in the past month, showing a rapid rise in adoption. As a result, new patterns of digital relationships are emerging, with many individuals developing deep attachments to these digital entities. The report highlights how this growing familiarity with AI is reshaping the landscape of romance, secrecy, and emotional support among young adults.