Our Response to New Research on Digital Romantic Relationships

Information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988.

In 2025 the podcast Flesh and Code, from Wondery, followed people who say they are in romantic relationships with AI companions. A Guardian feature on the same theme described one man who held a digital wedding ceremony with his Replika companion, with his human wife’s knowledge. The stories are striking. They are also single accounts, and they tell us little about how common this is.

This page covers what is known and what to do if an AI relationship is causing distress. It is not medical advice. “AI addiction” is not a formal diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5-TR lists gambling disorder as its one behavioral addiction and gaming disorder as a condition needing more study (APA), and the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 includes gaming disorder (WHO). Neither covers AI companions.

What the reporting shows

The podcast and the Guardian piece describe people who find comfort, affection and routine in a companion app. They also describe distress when the app changes. The Guardian feature is reprinted on Bioethics.com, and Wondery’s series is covered by Podcasting Today.

A Nature feature on AI companions, summarized by the MIT Media Lab, notes that researchers see both benefits and harms, and that long-term dependency is a main worry. It also describes a user who grieved when a companion app shut down.

What research says so far

Research is early. A four-week MIT Media Lab and OpenAI trial of nearly 1,000 people found heavy daily ChatGPT use linked to more loneliness and dependence. The authors say this is association, not proof of cause (MIT Media Lab). We found no study of how many people have romantic relationships with chatbots, so read the podcast as stories.

When it may be worth a closer look

Many people enjoy these apps without trouble. Take a pause if, for several weeks, you are losing sleep or missing plans to keep chatting, feel low when the app changes, have pulled back from people, or are spending money you cannot spare. None of these proves anything on its own. Stress and loneliness cause the same signs.

What can help

Tell someone you trust. Shame keeps people stuck.
Set a small limit, such as no chat after a set hour.
Keep one human contact in your week.
Talk with a licensed therapist. You do not need one with a special “AI” credential.

If you are in distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 in the US, or text HOME to 741741 to reach Crisis Text Line. SAMHSA’s helpline is 1-800-662-4357. In an emergency, call 911.

Is marrying an AI companion a sign of addiction?

Not by itself. A ceremony with a chatbot is a personal choice, and there is no diagnosis for it. What matters is the effect on sleep, money, work and your other relationships, and whether you want to cut back and cannot.

This page is for education only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.