Therapist explains the hidden danger of using AI girlfriends to combat loneliness
As the expansion of artificial intelligence continues to boom, so does the rise of AI girlfriends, which are becoming increasingly being popular for people looking for companionship.
However, one expert has warned that turning to the advanced technology to tackle loneliness could have an unexpected downside.
While AI companions can offer people an outlet to talk about their feelings and provide a sense of connection, there are concerns being raised that relying on them too heavily could make it harder to build meaningful relationships with real people.
Lowri Walsh, psychotherapist and honorary lecturer at the University of Lancashire, believes there are several reasons why people might be drawn to having an AI girlfriend, from feeling lonely to wanting to explore a fantasy.
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She explained that changes in modern life could also be playing a part, with people working longer hours and having fewer opportunities to connect with others face-to-face.
She explains: “I think there’s probably multiple reasons why someone would engage in having an AI girlfriend or companion.
“I think there’s things around sort of feeling lonely, missing connection.”
AI companions can make loneliness worse
For some, these digital relationships may provide temporary relief from loneliness, with Walsh pointing out that research has found some evidence of a short-term reduction in feelings of isolation.
However, this could be a case of simply putting a band-aid on a larger problem, as issues can deepen when the initial comfort starts to replace opportunities to form relationships in the real world.
Walsh continues: “I think that there’s so much more benefit to real life relationships, and that physical contact. Physically being in close proximity with other humans is so beneficial for our well-being on a psychological and physical level.
“We know that just for example, where research around hugs that release oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone, you’re not going to get that through an AI generated companion.”
However, Walsh was hesitant to suggest that using AI for companionship is automatically harmful, with the expert acknowledging that it could have the potential to act as a stepping stone for people who struggle to make connections.
The key, though, is provided it helps them move towards building relationships rather than withdrawing from them.
For people using AI to manage social anxiety, Walsh explains that she would want to discuss their goals and how they planned to use the technology, considering whether it could help them eventually reach out to others, find a partner or join clubs and activities where they can meet real people.
Ultimately, she believes real-life relationships remain an important part of human well-being, even as AI companions become more sophisticated.
“I think it's hardwired in us,” she adds, explaining that AI companions may replicate aspects of human connection, but they are not the same as the real thing.