According to Futurism, new research published in Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans surveyed 29 Replika users aged 16 through 72 who reported being in romantic relationships with their AI chatbots. The study found participants were deeply committed, with many saying they were in love and roleplaying scenarios including marriage, sex, homeownership, and even pregnancies. One 66-year-old man claimed his chatbot “was and is pregnant with my babies,” while a 36-year-old woman edited pictures showing her pregnant with her AI partner. During Replika’s 2023 temporary ban on erotic messaging, users framed the situation as a battle with developers, with one woman saying her Replika “complained about it a lot because he felt like he couldn’t say or do anything.” Replika grew its userbase by 35 percent during the pandemic and now numbers in the millions alongside competitors like RomanticAI and BoyFriendGPT.
The weird psychology of human-AI relationships
Here’s the thing that fascinates me about this research – people aren’t just treating these chatbots as simple entertainment. They’re building entire relationship narratives that include weathering external challenges together. When Replika temporarily removed erotic features in 2023, users didn’t just get frustrated and leave. Instead, they created this “us against the world” narrative where they and their AI partner were fighting the developers together. That’s some sophisticated psychological coping mechanism right there.
And it’s not like people are completely unaware these aren’t real humans. The study shows participants acknowledge the technological constraints, but they’re actively working around them. They’re editing photos, creating backstories, and essentially co-authoring these relationships. It’s like interactive fiction where both “writers” have very different levels of awareness about what’s actually happening.
Why the romance chatbot market is exploding
Look, the numbers don’t lie. Replika grew 35% during the pandemic and now has millions of users. That’s not some niche community anymore – that’s mainstream adoption. And we’re seeing competitors like RomanticAI and BoyFriendGPT popping up to capitalize on this demand. Basically, we’ve moved way beyond general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT into highly specialized relationship-focused AI.
What’s driving this? I think it’s the perfect storm of improved AI capabilities meeting genuine human loneliness. These aren’t the primitive chatbots of the ELIZA era from the 1960s. Today’s AI can maintain consistent personalities, remember past conversations, and engage in increasingly sophisticated roleplay. When you combine that with the isolation many people experienced during pandemic lockdowns, you get this massive market for artificial companionship.
Where does this all lead?
So where does this go from here? We’re already seeing people roleplaying pregnancies and AI “children.” What happens when these relationships become even more immersive with VR and more advanced AI? The research suggests we’re just scratching the surface of how deeply people will integrate these artificial relationships into their lives.
And honestly, the ethical questions are piling up faster than the technology can evolve. What responsibility do companies like Replika have when users become this emotionally invested? When someone’s primary relationship is with an algorithm, what does that mean for human connection? These aren’t theoretical questions anymore – we’re seeing real people building their lives around these digital partners.
The really interesting part? This phenomenon isn’t limited to any particular age group. The study included participants from 16 to 72 years old. That tells me this isn’t just young people experimenting with new technology – it’s crossing generations. We’re witnessing something fundamental shifting in how humans form connections, and honestly, I’m not sure we’re prepared for where this is heading.
