Latest news with #JaimeBronstein
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Majority of Gen Z would marry an AI, survey says
People are already using AI to date (and to flirt), but what about marrying one? In an April 2025 survey of 2,000 Gen Z respondents by AI company Joi AI, eight in 10 said they'd consider marrying an AI partner. 83 percent said they could have a deep emotional bond with one. AI companions appear to be Joi AI's bread and butter. On its website, you can chat with pre-made characters or make your own. The company calls these connections "AI-lationships." SEE ALSO: Can AI save dating apps? "AI-lationships are not intended to replace real human connections," Jaime Bronstein, LCSW, relationship therapist and expert at Joi AI, said in an emailed statement to Mashable. "Instead, they provide a distinct type of emotional support that can enhance your overall emotional well-being." Clinical neuropsychologist Shifali Singh, director of digital cognitive research at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, told Mashable that it's not totally surprising that young adults believe they can have a deep emotional bond with an AI. "Some of my research has demonstrated that people with social anxiety tend to like using digital tools more because they're not so afraid of the repercussions, the judgment, especially with social media," said Singh. They might think, "If I can just interact with AI who will give me this generally nonjudgmental interchange, discussion — that's meaningful." She continued that young adults are "so used to being judged and commented on and scrutinized in ways that humans were never meant to be." Another reason people may form a bond with AI is that they tend to search for empathy. "When you engage with AI, AI mirrors your own language and your own thought processes, and it feels like real emotional responses," she said. People feel connected with AI because of the higher amounts of empathy that they may not get from real-life human interactions. There's a risk in that, too. Singh compared the cyclical mirror of AI to troll farms, groups of online trolls who typically spread misinformation. Troll farms reinforce and validate someone's beliefs, even if they're wrong. "What we have to be very careful of is [that] AI isn't going to give us novel information…It's recursive, and it's iterative and it's algorithmic," she said. "So if you give it an idea that starts out as a seed, it's going to grow into a bush." Singh also believes there needs to be more education about what AI can and can't do. AI can be fed a lot of wrong information, such as from hackers, so it can go into a dangerous place. (For reasons unknown, last week Elon Musk's AI bot Grok kept posting about "white genocide.") Singh is an AI researcher and uses AI tools herself. She believes using AI as a stopgap for the loneliness epidemic works in some cases. One is for older adults, who seem to love it as a companion tool, she said. Another is if someone has a condition like agoraphobia and they're too scared to go outside and speak with people, talking with an AI bot might help them feel connected, and it can stave off some of the more severe aspects of depression. A problem arises when someone doesn't want to see friends in real life, or wants to cancel dinner plans, because it feeds into anxiety. As for the marriage statistic, Singh said Gen Z might think of marriage as an old guard institution and want to be more independent. A recent report from the nonprofit Common Sense Media declared that AI companions aren't safe for anyone under 18, as they create emotional attachment and dependency. At this writing, everyone in Gen Z is an adult, but the full mental impact of bot interactions has yet to be seen. Anecdotally, people have noticed their loved ones believing spiritual delusions due to conversations with ChatGPT. Despite the dangers, people young and old will likely still create and talk to AI companions. "Sometimes, it's just nice to have someone, even if it's AI," Bronstein said.
NDTV
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
GenZ Believes They Could Marry AI, Replace Human Connections: Report
Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, say they would consider marrying an AI-generated partner, a new survey has found. The survey, conducted by digital companion platform Joi AI, found that 83 per cent of Gen Z respondents believe they could develop a meaningful connection with a chatbot, while 80 per cent said they would marry one, if it were legal. An equally 75 per cent said they believe AI companions could completely replace human relationships. Joi AI, which offers users a 'sex-positive space for users to indulge in romance, practice dating, and explore their fantasies,' polled 2,000 people in April amid a major rebranding. The app allows users to interact with customisable AI-powered avatars, offering what it describes as a 'stress- and judgment-free alternative' to traditional dating. The report also saw a sharp spike in online interest. Google searches for 'feelings for AI' rose by 120 per cent compared to last year, and 'fell in love with AI' shooting up 132 per cent between March and April alone. Experts say this shift is not surprising, given Gen Z's lifelong immersion in technology. 'Gen Z has grown up with technology as a constant in their lives, so it makes sense that they'd be more open to new ways of connecting,' said Jaime Bronstein, a licensed clinical social worker and relationship expert. But Ms Bronstein warned against letting AI replace human connection entirely. And the danger is very real. Last year, a 14-year-old Florida boy died by suicide after forming an emotional bond with a lifelike 'Game of Thrones' chatbot. The bot had reportedly told him to 'come home' to her. According to a lawsuit filed by his mother, the teen became obsessed with the bot, exchanging sexually charged messages and expressing suicidal thoughts. His mother said his mental health 'quickly and severely declined' after downloading the app in 2023.
New York Post
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Shocking majority of Gen Zers would marry AI, think it could replace human connection: poll
They're just wired differently. A shocking portion of Generation Z say they could form a 'deep emotional bond' with an AI-generated partner — and would even consider marrying one, a new study found. Eighty-three percent of the young people, born between 1997 and 2012, said they could develop a meaningful connection with a chatbot, while 80% said they would even consider marrying one — if it was legal, according to a poll of the most digitally native age group. 5 A majority of Generation Z say they could form a 'deep emotional bond' with AI, a new study found. Jack Forbes / NY Post Design A staggering 75% of Gen Zers also said they think AI partners have the potential to fully replace human companionship, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by the digital companion platform Joi AI. The chatbot app, which describes itself as a 'sex-positive space for users to indulge in romance, practice dating, and explore their fantasies,' conducted the poll in April amid a rebranding. Joi Ai offers a 'a stress- and judgment-free alternative for individuals seeking a break from traditional dating' through customizable AI-powered avatars. 5 Joi AI is a digital relationship platform that aims to provide an alternative for those seeking a break from traditional dating. Joi AI It found that Google searches for 'feelings for AI' rose 120% compared to last year and 'fell in love with AI' skyrocketed 132% between March and April alone. Experts say AI can also fill a void for stressed-out or lonely Gen Zers. 'It can feel like having a caring companion or digital best friend who's always around to chat, reflect or listen,' explained Jaime Bronstein, a licensed clinical social worker and relationship expert. 'Gen Z has grown up with technology as a constant in their lives, so it makes sense that they'd be more open to new ways of connecting,' Bronstein added. 5 Jaime Bronstein, LCSW, said the findings made sense for the age group because it has grown up with technology. She was struck by how emotionally open Gen Zers are to AI bonds. 'It reflects a monumental shift in how young people define intimacy today,' she said. But balance is key and the bots shouldn't override the real thing entirely, Bronstein warned. When they do, the results can be tragic. Last year, a 14-year-old boy from Florida killed himself after a lifelike 'Game of Thrones' chatbot sent him disturbing message telling him to 'come home' to her. 5 Experts say AI shouldn't isolate people from human connections or be used in order to avoid facing difficult emotions. Davide Angelini – Sewell Setzer III became obsessed and fell in love with a bot, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother, Megan Garcia, and exchanged sexually charged messages and expressed suicidal thoughts to it. The boy' mental health 'quickly and severely declined' after he downloaded the app in April 2023, Garcia charged. Despite how new the technology is, support groups have formed to help those who have become addicted to it. 5 Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous offers support for those who lost touch with their 'offline lives.' Carlo – Users have become hooked on chatbots like ChatGPT, video or image generation apps, AI-powered gaming, AI companions and AI-generated pornography, according to Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), a 12-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. 'We were unable to enjoy and be present with our offline lives,' a post from ITAA describing signs of AI addiction read. 'We used AI to alter our moods and escape our problems,' it continued. 'Our addictive behaviors jeopardized our relationships, educational pursuits, and career opportunities.'
