AI companions: A new era of relationships or just a tech fad?

Have you ever thought about trying to get an AI romantic partner? Many people have already done so. But some people question whether they will be around forever or are just a temporary tech fad.

Some people and organizations believe AI companions will permanently change relationships

AI has had a tremendous impact on our daily lives. One survey from 2023 found that 56% of people use AI technology at least once a week. That figure has probably increased significantly over the last couple of years, since generative AI is more accessible than ever.

One of the latest ways that people are turning to AI is to have virtual relationships. Around 25% of men under the age of 35 have had an AI girlfriend. A number of women have started having AI companions as well.

There are a number of reasons AI companions have become so popular in recent years. But are they here to stay or just passing fad?

We have seen many stories about AI romance in film and literature over the past century. However, these fictional narratives were usually dismissed as sci-fi entertainment.

AI relationship services only became a reality over the last couple of years. The first modern AI companion service was launched in 2017. However, the technology was still primitive back then and it wasn’t very popular yet.

AI companion services have skyrocketed since 2022. Data from Google Trends shows that the number of searches for AI girlfriend terms increased by a staggering 2,400% between 2022 and 2024. The number of people searching for AI boyfriends has also increased.

As AI technology advances, many people are starting to feel that it will have a greater impact on our lives. One recent survey found that 28% of young men and 22% of young women believe that AI will replace traditional relationships in the near future. A number of large institutions share this view. The largest organization for people with neurodivergences in the United Kingdom published an article claiming AI girlfriends may make traditional relationships obsolete.

There are a number of reasons AI companions have become very popular recently. Some of the main selling points are listed below.

Avoiding the hassles of online dating

One of the reasons many people are using AI companions instead of pursuing traditional relationships is that they want to avoid the pitfalls of using dating apps. Dating apps became mainstream back in 2013 and many people thought they would be the perfect way to find a potential partner.

However, people’s experiences with dating apps have waned over the years. One major market research firm found that the proportion of women that reported having positive experiences with dating apps fell from 56% in 2019 to 48% in 2023. A growing number of people have started becoming disenfranchised with dating apps for a variety of reasons, including rising costs, increased emphasis on shallow attributes and reduced filtering options without signing up for a paid account.

Many of these people are starting to feel that AI companions can be a great alternative. They can help people find romance without dealing with the annoying challenges of dating apps.

Accessing romance for people with limited options

A growing number of people are using AI companions because they are having trouble finding a partner in real life. This is especially common for people that live in very rural areas. AI companions make romance possible for anyone with an Internet connection.

AI companions can also be great for people that have trouble forming connections with others. This includes people with neurodivergences that make dating challenging.

Customizing partners to avoid dealbreakers

Everybody has dealbreakers when looking for a relationship. This can include having incompatible political views, bad financial habits and issues with physical attractiveness.

One of the great things about AI companions is that they can be customized to meet the user’s needs. This can help people avoid having a partner with any of these dealbreakers.

AI companions will probably be around forever… But aren’t perfect for everyone

There are a lot of great benefits of AI companions. They are convenient to use and can be customized to meet your needs.

However, they are not going to be the perfect solution for everyone. They can’t currently help people meet their physical needs. Also, some people enjoy the spontaneity of having a partner that disagrees with them. Others like the challenge of forming real-life connections with other people. They may find the ease of finding a relationship with an AI companion to be unsatisfying.

Other people may prefer a blended approach to using AI companions. They may have an AI companion, but still have a real partner that they prioritize. These people may enjoy their AI companion as a supplement to their primary relationships, but can never see them as substitutes.

The reality is that AI companions are probably not going away. Far too many people find them to be beneficial. But most people will still prefer relationships with real people.