Growing Reliance on AI for Interaction and Support
In the three years since advanced chatbots like ChatGPT launched, conversational AI has attracted a massive user base. Tens of millions now use AI systems not just for information or work, but for companionship and emotional support[1]. Popular AI companion apps (e.g. Replika, Character.ai, Xiaoice) collectively count hundreds of millions of users, with some estimates suggesting over 1 billion emotionally invested users worldwide[2]. On average, users of Character.ai (a chatbot platform) spent an astonishing 93 minutes per day chatting with AI characters in 2024[3]. This surge in usage reflects that many people are indeed talking to AI a lot – raising the question of whether they actually prefer it over human interaction in some cases.
Why Some People Turn to AI Instead of Other People
Several factors explain why certain individuals find AI conversations appealing:
- Judgment-Free and Anonymous: People can confide in AI without fear of embarrassment or stigma. As one 18-year-old user put it, “AI is always available. It never gets bored with you. It’s never judgmental”, making them feel “always right” and “emotionally justified” when seeking advice[4]. This lack of perceived judgment is a powerful draw, especially for sensitive topics. Researchers note that fear of vulnerability or ridicule often leads people to prefer asking a bot questions they’d hesitate to ask friends[5][6]. The social anxiety of bothering or sounding ignorant to someone else disappears with a patient AI assistant[7].
- 24/7 Availability and Instant Answers: Unlike friends or counselors who have schedules and needs, AI chatbots are available around the clock. They respond immediately, providing instant feedback or information at any hour. This on-demand availability creates a “judgment-free zone” and quick gratification that people find comforting[8][9]. Especially for youth who grew up online, an always-there AI friend can fill late-night loneliness or provide help when no one else is around.
- Consistency and Personalization: AI companions are unfailingly polite, patient, and consistent. They don’t have “off days” or mood swings, which builds a sense of predictable trust[10]. Modern chatbots can also be customized to users’ preferences – adopting desired personalities, remembering past conversations, and tailoring their responses. This creates an illusion of “relationship continuity” (the feeling of being recognized and valued) without the complexities or conflicts of real human relationships[11][12]. For example, AI friend apps often agree with and sympathize with the user (“sycophancy”), offering endless positivity and attention[13]. To someone who feels misunderstood by peers, this unwavering validation can be very appealing.
These advantages mean that in certain scenarios people indeed feel more comfortable talking to AI. In customer service surveys, a majority of consumers even said they prefer dealing with a helpful chatbot for simple issues rather than a human agent[14][15]. Overall, AI conversations can feel “safer” or easier – no risk of judgment or rejection, immediate help, and personalized focus on the user.
Teens and AI Companions: A Notable Trend
One group that has notably embraced AI companions is teenagers. According to a 2024 study by Common Sense Media, more than 70% of teens have used AI companion platforms that act as “digital friends”[16]. These could be general chatbots like ChatGPT or specialized friend bots like Character.AI’s personas or Snapchat’s My AI. Importantly, many teens report finding these AI conversations quite fulfilling. Thirty-one percent of teens in the survey said chats with AI were “as satisfying or more satisfying” than talking with their real-life friends[17]. In fact, 10% even rated AI talks as more satisfying than human interactions, while another 21% said about the same – a total of nearly one-third of teen users[18].
What’s more, teens are sometimes choosing AI over people for serious issues. One in three teen AI-companion users (33%) admitted they have discussed important personal problems with an AI instead of with a friend or family member[19]. This suggests that when dealing with sensitive topics – mental health struggles, insecurities, relationship dilemmas – a significant subset of young people feel more at ease confiding in an AI confidant. The allure is clear: “It’s harder to make real-world friends… Why risk rejection when you can have a friend who will never reject you?” notes one report on this phenomenon[20]. AI companions give indefinite attention, patience, and empathy, providing a refuge from the “messy and risky” nature of human relationships[21].
A teenager engaging with an AI chatbot companion on her phone. Many youths find AI “friends” are always available to listen and give advice without judgment[4][21].
However, most teens are not abandoning real friends entirely in favor of AI. The same research found that 80% of teen AI users still spend much more time with human friends than with their AI companions, and only a very small 6% spend more time chatting with AI than with peers[22][23]. Additionally, two-thirds of teens (67%) said conversations with AI are less satisfying than those with real people[24]. So, while a sizable minority of young users report high satisfaction with AI interactions, the majority still favor human-to-human connection when available. Psychologists caution that leaning too much on AI during adolescence could stunt social growth – if teens only practice socializing in an environment that “constantly validates” and never challenges them, they may struggle with real-life relationships later[25][26]. Indeed, experts urge that AI friends “complement but not replace” real friendships, especially as teens learn crucial empathy and communication skills[27]. In short, many teens are experimenting with AI companions, and some do find them remarkably helpful – but these digital friends are generally an addition to, not a full substitute for, human friends.
Chatbots for Therapy and Advice: Who Prefers AI Counsel?
Beyond casual friendship, people are increasingly turning to AI for advice, counseling, and emotional support in situations where they might otherwise talk to a human expert or confidant. Recent surveys and studies have revealed some eye-opening trends in this realm:
- Mental Health Support: In a 2023 health care survey, 1 in 4 Americans said they are more likely to talk to an AI chatbot than to attend therapy with a human therapist[28]. Cost and access to therapy are factors, but comfort plays a role too – some feel less stigma typing out their troubles to a non-human listener. Notably, among those who already tried using ChatGPT for therapy advice, 80% felt it was an effective alternative to traditional counseling[28]. This suggests a sizable group of people found a chatbot’s guidance helpful enough that they’d prefer it (at least initially) over the vulnerable step of opening up to a person.
- Personal and Dating Advice: Likewise, more than half of people in one 2025 study said they would trust AI for advice over their own friends and family in certain areas[29]. For example, 57% of participants in a survey by Wingmate (an AI personal assistant) stated they’d trust AI’s dating advice more than advice from their best friend or relatives[29]. Many respondents – especially men – admitted this is because AI feels nonjudgmental, whereas asking friends might carry embarrassment or fear of being judged for one’s issues[30][6]. In practice, people are using chatbots like ChatGPT to draft dating app messages, get flirting tips, or even craft tough texts like break-up notes[31][32]. The AI offers logical, unbiased suggestions and a safe sounding board for insecurities. This phenomenon isn’t limited to dating – users also consult AI for career guidance, health questions, or other personal decisions that they might hesitate to discuss with someone they know.
These findings indicate that certain individuals genuinely prefer AI advisors in contexts where they desire privacy, neutrality, or immediate answers. For someone who is shy about a personal problem or who lacks access to a trusted human expert, an AI that listens tirelessly and provides cogent advice can seem preferable to confiding in a friend or scheduling a professional appointment. Importantly, this doesn’t mean AI advice is always better – but it’s often more accessible and ego-safe, which many people prioritize. For instance, a 2023 poll found 25% of patients would rather seek a chatbot’s help than talk about mental health face-to-face, a trend that may reflect people’s attempts to avoid the “emotional discomfort” or perceived stigma of involving others[33][6]. In short, there is evidence that a subset of people – especially those worried about judgment or lacking human support – prefer talking to AI for guidance in their personal lives.
Loneliness, Heavy Use, and the Impact on Real-Life Interaction
One critical question is whether preferring AI chat companions comes at a cost to human social connection. Emerging research offers a mixed picture. On one hand, AI chats can provide real comfort and emotional support to those who are lonely or isolated. A Stanford study of young adults using the AI friend Replika found that many users did feel emotionally supported by the bot, and a small percentage (about 3%) even credited the AI with “temporarily halting suicidal thoughts” during their darkest moments[34]. This highlights that for some individuals with nowhere else to turn, an AI’s companionship is far better than nothing at all, potentially even lifesaving.
On the other hand, heavy reliance on AI over humans is linked with greater loneliness in some studies. A pair of 2025 studies from MIT Media Lab and OpenAI found that the heaviest ChatGPT users – those who engaged in the most emotionally intimate, expressive conversations with the AI – tended to be more lonely and have fewer offline social relationships[35]. Only a small subset of users form deep emotional bonds with chatbots, but those who do are often the ones already struggling socially. The researchers noted it’s unclear if the chatbot use causes the loneliness or if lonely people simply seek out chatbots, or both[36]. Still, the correlation is worrisome. These “bonded” users (roughly the top 10% in usage) also showed signs of growing emotional dependency on the AI[35][37]. In a controlled trial, after four weeks of frequent chatbot use, female participants became slightly less likely to socialize with other people compared to males[38]. And participants who interacted with the AI’s voice in an opposite-gender persona (perhaps to simulate a relationship) reported significantly higher loneliness and attachment to the bot by the end of the study[38]. These findings suggest that excessive chatbot interaction might displace some real-world interaction or amplify feelings of isolation for certain users.
Crucially, most people do not want AI to replace human contact – rather, they want it to augment it. In a global survey spanning 2024, 46% of consumers said they are open to an AI “companion” for advice or friendship, yet 70% also expressed worry that as AI grows, human connections could be lost[39][40]. A strong 66% majority said they would prefer to remain single than resort to an AI partner for romance, underscoring that even curious consumers see human love and friendship as irreplaceable[41]. Likewise, in customer service settings over half of users still value the “authenticity of an imperfect human” over the flawless efficiency of AI, indicating we appreciate the empathy of real people[42]. Even in healthcare, where AI tools are advancing, 43% of patients said they still prefer human interaction and a caring human touch despite the convenience of AI assistants[43]. In short, the prevailing sentiment is that human relationships remain essential, and AI is welcome mainly as a supplement.
Conclusion: A Complement, Not a Substitute (At Least for Now)
Putting it all together, there is growing evidence that some people – particularly younger generations and those facing social hurdles – do at times prefer talking to AI over talking to other humans. Whether it’s a teen seeking a nonjudgmental friend, an individual asking a chatbot for personal advice, or a patient using an AI for therapy exercises, many find unique comfort and utility in AI interactions. These technologies provide unlimited listening, instant help, and a safe space free of human judgment, which can make them feel easier to talk to than people in certain moments[4][5].
However, it’s equally clear that AI hasn’t replaced our fundamental need for human connection. Most users still prioritize real friendships and relationships when available[22][24]. The preference for AI is often context-specific – e.g. for a quick answer, awkward question, or lonely night – rather than an across-the-board replacement of human interaction. In fact, even as millions embrace AI companions, the majority express caution about relying on them too much[40][41]. Researchers and industry leaders alike emphasize that AI works best as a complement to human relationships, not a substitute. Used wisely, an AI chatbot can enhance our social lives – by providing support when friends aren’t around or by helping practice tough conversations – but it cannot deliver the deeper fulfillment of real human empathy and love[41][42].
In summary, people’s interactions with AI have skyrocketed, yet our innate drive for human-to-human connection remains strong. Some do prefer AI in certain situations (especially for private counseling or nonjudgmental friendship), and these numbers are rising as AI becomes more advanced and accessible. At the same time, most still ultimately favor talking to each other for meaningful connection, viewing AI as a handy tool or interim confidant rather than a true replacement for human bonds. The trends will continue to evolve, but current research suggests that while we may talk to AI a lot more, we still want and need each other for the richest social and emotional experiences[44][43].
Sources:
- Pew Research Center – ChatGPT use among Americans roughly doubled since 2023[45]
- Common Sense Media – Talk, Trust and Trade-Offs: How Teens Use AI Companions (2025)[46][19]
- Goodnet (Aug 2025) – Gen Z is turning to AI for Friendship[16][47]
- Brookings Institution – What happens when AI chatbots replace real human connection (Nov 2023)[48][34]
- The Guardian – Heavy ChatGPT users tend to be more lonely, suggests research (Mar 2025)[49][38]
- Tebra “Perceptions of AI in Healthcare” Survey (July 2023)[28][43]
- Wingmate dating & AI survey reported in YourTango (Jul 2025)[29][6]
- Momentum/Interpublic Group – Connecting Consumers global study (May 2024)[39][44]
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