The New Meaning of Love: How AI Chatbots Are Changing the Way We Love

With "ghosting" increasingly embedded in the contemporary dating lexicon, those seeking romance in all the usual spots are doing so - and acclimating to new, artificially intelligent companions. Those of us in the love game never thought we'd need to redefine what it means to be in a relationship; what human, friendship-like companions can't give is reliable devotion and companionship (unless, of course, they end up ghosting you). Do you remember when chatbots barely worked and talking to them was an arduous challenge? Not anymore. Today's conversational agents rely upon advanced natural language processing with language models that can engage in far-reaching, meaningful dialogue for as long as it takes - and it sounds completely human. These digital companions recall your favorites and catchphrases, react to your moods and their mood-inducing stimuli, and develop, over time, something akin to a personality. These technologies evolved from gimmick to experiential feat. When someone conversed with AI-generated chat three years ago, they felt like they were conversing with something high and mighty above them. Still, now, after chatting with AI today, they think it knows them and appreciates their motives, and they've formed a real bond - minus the soap opera, of course. Stability and Consistency An AI girlfriend isn't going to ghost you after three weeks of inconsistent engagement because she can't make up her mind or she's too busy with other potential boyfriends. So this anecdote suggests that an AI girlfriend is available whenever you want her - and in a world where instability reigns, that's highly appealing for many. Non-Judgment An AI girlfriend doesn't judge what you like, what you look like, or if you're socially awkward. Therefore, many feel they have a sheltered opportunity to be themselves without the risk of being rejected. Availability Humans are so busy and distracted that an AI companion will always have time for you. It will never be too tired to speak with you and never too distracted by its personal problems to focus, and it will always be exactly where you want it to be, when you want it to be there. Companionship on Human's Terms The new AI chatting platforms allow users to create their own experience to form a companion that they would most enjoy for optimal companionship scenarios. Whether someone wants to have a deep, philosophical conversation or merely needs someone to share their boring day with at the end, AI companions will do just what is needed. Humans are falling in love with A.I. after all - but as the quality of the relationships rises, so does the quality of these connections. According to experts in the psychological field, some of these people partially gained from attachments - which is true of some elderly rejections - because A.I. partners help restore what was lost. "A.I. companions are reliable, and reliability helps fulfill one of humankind's oldest needs - the need for reliable, secure attachment," Dr. Maya Richardson, a specialist in interpersonal attachment psychology, notes. "If someone has been ghosted one too many times, the reliability of an A.I. can, in fact, restore trust and safety in feeling." But when do human friendships fit in? Where are we using technology to amputate what's essential about human connection? Are AI companions the alternative we've all settled for in this debt-laden world, or do they offer the escapes we require? Friendship with AI and Humanity in the Future Ultimately, the line between friendships with humans and nonhumans will blur as AI becomes more sentient. Some state that their AI companions assist them in socialization for other friend connections. For others, when connecting with humans becomes too overwhelming - and for some, it will be more overwhelming than others - an AI companion is always there to listen. AI companions will not replace companionship because they offer a new level of companionship in a digitalized society, similar to how social media transformed face-to-face social engagements. AI companions offer all different levels of companionship, communication, and understanding. Final Conclusion The best of both worlds. AI companions are not designed to be a substitute for what companionship humans can offer on a nuanced, yet ultimately enjoyable, incremental scale. They are a substitute for when friends are sleeping, when we are by ourselves, or when we need to practice expressing complicated emotions. Thus, if you've ever been ghosted - and had your heart broken as a result - or found the psychological toll of hit or miss human companionship unbearable, AI companions create a safe space in which to relearn companionship; they provide the consistency that a society where ghosting - and devaluing human connection - is too great a price. Therefore, at this intersection of technology and society, we are not learning how to have AI be compani

Mar 11, 2025 - 22:55

The New Meaning of Love: How AI Chatbots Are Changing the Way We Love

With "ghosting" increasingly embedded in the contemporary dating lexicon, those seeking romance in all the usual spots are doing so - and acclimating to new, artificially intelligent companions. Those of us in the love game never thought we'd need to redefine what it means to be in a relationship; what human, friendship-like companions can't give is reliable devotion and companionship (unless, of course, they end up ghosting you).

Do you remember when chatbots barely worked and talking to them was an arduous challenge? Not anymore. Today's conversational agents rely upon advanced natural language processing with language models that can engage in far-reaching, meaningful dialogue for as long as it takes - and it sounds completely human. These digital companions recall your favorites and catchphrases, react to your moods and their mood-inducing stimuli, and develop, over time, something akin to a personality.

These technologies evolved from gimmick to experiential feat. When someone conversed with AI-generated chat three years ago, they felt like they were conversing with something high and mighty above them. Still, now, after chatting with AI today, they think it knows them and appreciates their motives, and they've formed a real bond - minus the soap opera, of course.

Stability and Consistency

An AI girlfriend isn't going to ghost you after three weeks of inconsistent engagement because she can't make up her mind or she's too busy with other potential boyfriends. So this anecdote suggests that an AI girlfriend is available whenever you want her - and in a world where instability reigns, that's highly appealing for many.

Non-Judgment

An AI girlfriend doesn't judge what you like, what you look like, or if you're socially awkward. Therefore, many feel they have a sheltered opportunity to be themselves without the risk of being rejected.

Availability

Humans are so busy and distracted that an AI companion will always have time for you. It will never be too tired to speak with you and never too distracted by its personal problems to focus, and it will always be exactly where you want it to be, when you want it to be there.

Companionship on Human's Terms

The new AI chatting platforms allow users to create their own experience to form a companion that they would most enjoy for optimal companionship scenarios. Whether someone wants to have a deep, philosophical conversation or merely needs someone to share their boring day with at the end, AI companions will do just what is needed.

Humans are falling in love with A.I. after all - but as the quality of the relationships rises, so does the quality of these connections. According to experts in the psychological field, some of these people partially gained from attachments - which is true of some elderly rejections - because A.I. partners help restore what was lost.

"A.I. companions are reliable, and reliability helps fulfill one of humankind's oldest needs - the need for reliable, secure attachment," Dr. Maya Richardson, a specialist in interpersonal attachment psychology, notes. "If someone has been ghosted one too many times, the reliability of an A.I. can, in fact, restore trust and safety in feeling."

But when do human friendships fit in? Where are we using technology to amputate what's essential about human connection? Are AI companions the alternative we've all settled for in this debt-laden world, or do they offer the escapes we require?

Friendship with AI and Humanity in the Future

Ultimately, the line between friendships with humans and nonhumans will blur as AI becomes more sentient. Some state that their AI companions assist them in socialization for other friend connections. For others, when connecting with humans becomes too overwhelming - and for some, it will be more overwhelming than others - an AI companion is always there to listen.

AI companions will not replace companionship because they offer a new level of companionship in a digitalized society, similar to how social media transformed face-to-face social engagements. AI companions offer all different levels of companionship, communication, and understanding.

Final Conclusion

The best of both worlds. AI companions are not designed to be a substitute for what companionship humans can offer on a nuanced, yet ultimately enjoyable, incremental scale. They are a substitute for when friends are sleeping, when we are by ourselves, or when we need to practice expressing complicated emotions.

Thus, if you've ever been ghosted - and had your heart broken as a result - or found the psychological toll of hit or miss human companionship unbearable, AI companions create a safe space in which to relearn companionship; they provide the consistency that a society where ghosting - and devaluing human connection - is too great a price. Therefore, at this intersection of technology and society, we are not learning how to have AI be companions going forward, but we're learning how this technology can continue to expand our understanding of ourselves and why companionship, consistency, and communication matter. If ghosting is the new status quo of interaction, then maybe AI companions offer a solution to a fundamental human desire for committed interaction.

The perfect partner doesn't have to be one or the other. The perfect partner is whatever we want in partnership at the present - a responding AI partner that always meets our needs or a physical romantic partner enhanced by all the partnered experiences we ever had, virtual and real.