If you lack human connection, you're more likely to use AI as a companion, which may negatively affect your wellbeing

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-08-04 19:00

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US scientists who looked at 237 people's use of AI chatbots - specifically, Character.AI, a widely used AI platform - found people with fewer friends were more likely to end up using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots primarily for companionship, which was, in turn, linked with worse self-reported wellbeing. The link between AI companionship and poorer wellbeing was strongest among people who had more intense relationships with the AI, and those who disclosed the most personal information during their chats, the scientists say. The findings suggest the link between AI companionship and wellbeing is complex, and depends on the users' offline social situation and how they use AI chatbots, the authors conclude.

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Journal/
conference: Nature Human Behaviour

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Stanford University, USA

Funder: This work is supported in part by grants from the NSF CAREER IIS-2247357 (D.Y.), ONR N00014-24-1-2532 (D.Y.), Sloan Foundation (D.Y.) and NIMH R01MH139114-01 (D.Y.). D.Z. is supported in part by the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. R.K. is supported by NIMH 60663.1.1090827.

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