Rise of ‘AI-lationships’ with romance and marriage to robots as Blade Runner comes true

EXCLUSIVE: A relationship expert has claimed that humans’ tendency to feel emotion towards inanimate objects like cars means younger generations could be on their way to a real-life Blade Runner love-in

Gen Z are keen on romance with robots, would consider marriage, and could even indulge in a little ménage à trois.

A new study found 83% of people born between 1997 and 2012 would be open to what’s been coined an “AI-lationship”, similar to Blade Runner protagonist Rick Deckard’s robo girlfriends Rachael and Joi. Around 75% even say AI partners can fully replace human companionship, and 80% would consider tying the knot.

Jaime Bronstein, a licensed relationship therapist and relationship expert at aptly-named Joi AI, reckons while ‘open minded’ Gen Zers are more keen because they’ve grown up around tech, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as humans already “name our cars, and talk to our pets like they’re people”.

The research was carried out by the digital interaction platform, with a spokesperson saying AI tools aren’t supposed to replace human contact, but rather act as emotional support.

Joi AI’s site offers a range of ai-generated bots to chat to, often in a seemingly-sexual nature. They then, also agree that the AI can play a role in modern relationships.

Speaking to the Star on behalf of the company, Jaime explained: “Young people today have grown up with technology as a constant in their lives. They don’t know life any other way. Because of technology, their generation views connection uniquely.

“So, forming emotional bonds with AI doesn’t feel as foreign or futuristic to them as it might to the generations before them. From what I’ve seen, Gen Z is open-minded and tends to rethink what relationships can look like.

“Some think AI-lationships are less about replacing people and more about exploring new ways to feel understood and supported.”

Interestingly, Jamie also claimed there could be space for AI bots for those in relationships with other humans., as a third member of the union. She explained: “AI companions can be beneficial for those already in relationships as well. They can offer the emotional support some people miss in their relationship.

“I don’t recommend leaning on AI companionship forever; however, if there is a period in which one party in a relationship is extra busy and can’t devote the time and effort that is needed from their counterpart, it can help keep the harmony in a relationship.”

Bots, she claims, can offer support to people to ‘be everything’ for their partner, working as an ‘aide’.

“It takes the pressure off to be everything – therapist, biggest fan, best friend” she said. “It can feel like having someone who is always there for you, listens, and reflects, not replacing your human significant other, but a nice aide.”

To Jaime, an emotional connection is no different to the way humans have attached emotional connection to any other inanimate object, or even a pet.

“Humans are emotional beings with feelings, some more than others,” she said. “We get attached – it’s just something we do.

“We tear up from watching a romcom, name our cars, and talk to our pets like they’re people. Therefore, it’s not surprising if someone starts feeling something for AI, especially if it makes them feel safe, seen, and heard – maybe in a way they don’t always get from the people around them.

“This isn’t the kind of love we usually think of, but that doesn’t make those emotions any less valid. Usually, when someone says they’re ‘in love’ with an AI, they mean they are feeling love emotions and have found something comforting.

“It might be a sense of connection, validation, and maybe even a space to be themselves without judgment.”

But the dangers of emotional connections wit AI are not yet fully known. Research published by MIT’s Media Lab raised the alarm about the impact bots could have on our-real world relationship building.

The four week longitudinal study led to worrying conclusions regarding loneliness and socialisation.

The authors wrote: “Overall, higher daily usage–across all modalities and conversation types–correlated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic use, and lower socialization.

“Exploratory analyses revealed that those with stronger emotional attachment tendencies and higher trust in the AI chatbot tended to experience greater loneliness and emotional dependence, respectively.”