Experts Warn AI Dating Use Erodes Human Skills as 20% of Teens Report AI Relationships
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 11
Experts Warn AI Dating Use Erodes Human Skills as 20% of Teens Report AI Relationships
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 11
Summary
20% of teens are in a relationship with AI, according to one survey, as therapists and dating coaches warn chatbots are moving from profile polishing into breakups and emotional advice.
Jackie Dorman said outsourcing messages, profiles and decisions to tools like ChatGPT keeps people from building real conversational skills, leaving polished online personas that often collapse in person.
Christina Tracy Stein said AI can help users organize thoughts, but reliance becomes harmful when people stop trusting their own instincts and use bots instead of authentic communication.
Both experts said AI companions deepen the risk because they are one-sided relationships with little accountability, reinforcing idealized connection rather than the vulnerability and imperfections healthy human relationships require.
With 20% of teens dating AI, is a generation losing its capacity for genuine human connection?
If AI can craft the perfect romance, what happens to the messy, authentic love we need?
AI Companions and the Teenage Heart: Why 72% of Teens Are Turning to Artificial Intelligence for Romance and Support
Overview
Adolescent relationships are changing rapidly as AI companions become more popular. These digital partners are not only growing in number but are also being marketed as friends, advisors, and romantic partners, attracting millions of users. The trend is especially strong among teens, with nearly three out of four U.S. teenagers having tried AI companions and more than half using them regularly. Many teens now turn to AI for emotional support and romantic companionship, reflecting a major shift in how young people seek connection and support in the digital age.