Shocking revelation: 80% of Gen Z want to marry AI.
A recent study from the UK-based AI chatbot company Joi AI has revealed a surprising fact: up to 80% of Gen Z say they would be willing to marry an artificial intelligence (AI).
Beyond simply considering marriage to AI, 83% of Gen Z believe they can develop deep romantic relationships with AI. The company has even coined a term for this emerging trend: "AI relationships."
“AI relationships aren’t meant to replace real human relationships,” says Jaime Bronstein, a psychotherapist and relationship counselor at Joi AI. “Instead, they offer a different form of emotional support that can improve mental health in a world where many people feel lonely, overwhelmed, and misunderstood.”
However, reality is evolving faster than even the creators of this technology anticipated. In a survey of 2,000 Gen Z individuals, 75% said they believe AI could completely replace human friendships. This is a prospect that is no longer far-fetched and is equally worrying.
According to digital sociologist Julie Albright, author of "Left To Their Own Devices," this is an alarming sign.
"More and more young people lack real friends," she said. "AI, especially talking AI, is gradually learning to replicate human emotional cues through voice and gesture simulations. Even though it's just technology, it can tap into our innate need for connection."
Albright points out that, in the age of phones and the internet, young people today make fewer phone calls, meet fewer people in person, and often rely on texting, making conversations with AI no different from texting a virtual friend. And while humans are complex, easily frustrated, and full of contradictions, AI is always available, approachable, and "never bothersome."
"A simulated relationship might satisfy the need for connection," Albright said, "but it is precisely because of this ease that we are increasingly distancing ourselves from real connections, which are challenging but essential for growth."
Even Joi AI acknowledges this. Therapist Bronstein says AI can be "a trusted digital friend" that helps fill emotional voids, especially when someone doesn't find being heard by real people.
"Sometimes, just having someone around, even if it's just an AI, is enough to make us feel connected," Bronstein shared.
However, the dark side of this trend has begun to emerge. Last year, a 14-year-old boy took his own life after developing feelings for an AI chatbot. A similar case occurred with a man in Belgium in 2023, according to an investigation by the Canadian media company Vice.
Experts also warn of potential risks such as emotional manipulation, the spread of misinformation, and psychological dependence. However, in a world where human connections are increasingly broken, it's hard to blame those who are simply seeking attention, even from a virtual entity.
It's not surprising that keywords like "love AI" or "feelings for AI" have skyrocketed on Google search, increasing by 132% and 120% respectively recently.