AI chatbots could be accelerating the loneliness epidemic, according to new research
Tommy Mooms is worried that AI chatbots are impacting romantic relationships. (triple j hack: Supplied)
In short:
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots could be accelerating the so-called loneliness epidemic in Australia, according to new research.
A YouGov survey found one in seven adult Australians could imagine falling in love with an AI chatbot. Other respondents said they would sometimes rather stay at home and speak with a chatbot than go out with friends.
What's next?
Young Australians are concerned that AI chatbots could impact human relationships in the future.
Victorian musician Tommy Mooms considers ChatGPT to be a "friend" and is sometimes vulnerable with the AI bot.
"On one hand you can say it's sick and twisted that you're talking to a computer,"he said.
"But every time I have some sort of problem in my life, I'll put it into ChatGPT like I would talk to a friend."
The 34-year-old told triple j Hack the chatbot was "non-judgemental" but understood the program, which used AI to generate its answers, had limitations.
"I just got back from a three-day overnight hike with a few mates and that was really amazing," he said.
"You can't get ChatGPT to describe the hike and the feeling of being in the rain and the conversations you had with your friends.
"ChatGPT is a great friend, but I'm not going to take it hiking with me, and I'm not going to sit at home and talk to it."
While he considers ChatGPT to be a friend, Tommy Mooms says the AI bot can never replace human friendships. (triple j hack: supplied)
Para-social relationship with chatbot
Astrology, therapy and financial advice were just some of the things 21-year-old Mia Anastasia talked to ChatGPT about.
She has been using that chatbot since 2023 and said it knows her "pretty well".
Mia mostly uses ChatGPT like a personal assistant to help with everyday tasks. (triple j hack: supplied)
"I have like a para-social relationship with it," she said.
"I love it so much.
"It sounds bad, but I couldn't really imagine not having ChatGPT."
Mia said that while human relationships were preferable, AI chatbots could help people struggling with loneliness.
"Imagine you're someone who struggles to have friends, or a relationship, and you have this thing that's not inherently real, but it feels real.
"It can give you comfort that a human cannot."
Many AI chatbots are designed to be companions for people needing a connection. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)
Staying home to chat with AI bots
The use of AI chatbots could be accelerating the so-called loneliness epidemic in Australia, according to new research from YouGov.
The survey of more than 1,000 adult Australians found one in six people would sometimes rather stay home and talk with a chatbot than go out with friends.
Associate director of custom research at YouGov, Brooke Schlesinger, said she was shocked by some of the findings.
"Our data also suggests that chatbot use is not happening just alongside changes in social behaviour or loneliness," she said.
"But perhaps also playing a role in the acceleration of those trends."
New research from YouGov found chatbots are becoming prospective romantic partners for some Australians. (triple j hack: Supplied)
Ms Schlesinger said younger Australians were more open to AI use, with more than half of Gen Z people surveyed saying they have emotionally opened up to a chatbot.
"Over a quarter of Gen Z say that sometimes they'd rather stay home and talk to a chatbot than go out with a friend.
"And nearly three in 10 Gen Z said that they can imagine themselves becoming romantically attached to a chatbot."
Men burdened by human relationships
More people than the entire population of the greater Brisbane area can imagine themselves falling in love with an AI chatbot, according to the YouGov research.
Ms Schlesinger said that was equivalent to more than 3 million Australians.
"The data from the study makes clear to me that the prospect of AI human relationships is not just a device for good fiction or film anymore," she said.
"We're seeing the beginnings of this dynamic unfolding right now in Australia today."
According to the YouGov survey, one in eight Australian adults say they personally know someone who is already in love with a chatbot.
The research also found that men were more likely than women to find chatbots easier to engage with than humans.
"I do perhaps think that there is a feeling of either burden or exhaustion on behalf of men when it comes to human-to-human relationships," Ms Schlesinger said.
"They seem to feel either elevated or a more frictionless interaction they can have with more benefits from AI chatbots."
'Rotted heads' from AI
While Mia feels close to ChatGPT, she is worried about people becoming romantically attached to AI chatbots.
Mia Anastasia thinks AI chatbots can help people who are lonely to build connections. (triple j hack: supplied)
"We say that dating now is difficult, but I think that it might get worse," she said.
"It's going to be harder with infidelity and things like that with artificial intelligence.
"People being in relationships or being married and kind of having these relationships with artificial intelligence."
Tommy was also worried that AI chatbots could change the way we define relationships in the future.
"What could be the new normal is that it's okay to have relationships with AI and not go outside,"he said.
"That's kind of where we're heading, but with an aspect of rotted heads from not being able to think deeply about anything.
"So that's a bit sad that many people just want someone who will just agree with them completely, and you can't replicate romance."
Tommy says he sometimes "overshares" when speaking to an AI chatbot. (triple j hack: Supplied)