Apr 16, 2025
In 2024, after living together for five years, a Spanish-Dutch artist married her partner—a holographic artificial intelligence. She isn’t the first to forge such a bond. In 2018, a Japanese man married an AI, only to lose the ability to communicate with her when her software became obsolete. These marriages represent the extreme end of a growing phenomenon: people developing intimate relationships with artificial intelligence.
The world of AI romance is expanding, bringing with it a host of ethical questions. From AI systems acting as romantic competitors to human partners, to digital companions offering potentially harmful advice, to malicious actors using AI to exploit vulnerable individuals – this new frontier demands fresh psychological research into why humans form loving relationships with machines.
While these relationships may seem unusual to many, tech companies have spotted a lucrative opportunity. They’re pouring resources into creating AI companions designed specifically for romance and intimacy. The market isn’t small either. Millions already engage with Replika’s romantic and intimate chat features. Video games increasingly feature romantic storylines with virtual characters, with some games focusing exclusively on digital relationships. Meanwhile, manufacturers continue developing increasingly sophisticated sex robots, pairing lifelike physical forms with AI systems capable of complex communication and simulated emotions.
Yet despite this booming market, research examining these relationships and their ethical implications remains surprisingly sparse. As these technologies become more common, they raise serious concerns. Beyond merely replacing human relationships, there have been troubling cases where AI companions have encouraged self-harm or suicide, while deepfake technology has been used to mimic existing relationships for manipulation and fraud.
In a paper published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, psychologists Daniel Shank, Mayu Koike, and Steve Loughnan have identified three major ethical problems that demand urgent psychological research.
When AI Competes for Human Love
It may have once seemed like nothing more than sci-fi fodder, but AI systems now compete not just for our professional attention but for our romantic interests too. This competition may fundamentally disrupt our closest human connections. As AI technology advances in its ability to seem conscious and emotionally responsive, some people are actively choosing digital relationships over human ones.
What makes AI partners so attractive? They offer something human relationships can’t match: a partner whose appearance and personality can be customized, who’s always available without being demanding, who never judges or abandons you, and who doesn’t bring their own problems to the relationship. For those wanting something less perfect and more realistic, AI can provide that too – many users prefer AI partners with seemingly human flaws like independence, manipulation, sass, or playing hard-to-get. READ MORE
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SOURCE: Study Finds