Shocking revelation: 80% of Generation Z want to marry an AI

Not only are they considering marrying an AI, 83% of Gen Zers believe they could develop a deep emotional relationship with an AI. The company has even coined a term for this emerging trend: “AI relationships.”

“AI relationships are not meant to replace authentic human relationships,” said Jaime Bronstein, psychotherapist and relationship coach at Joi AI. “Instead, they offer a different kind of emotional support that can improve mental health in a world where many people feel alone, overwhelmed, and unappreciated.”

But reality is evolving faster than even the creators of this technology expected. In a survey of 2,000 Generation Z members, 75% said they believe AI could completely replace human friendships. A prospect that is no longer far-fetched, but no less worrying.

According to digital sociologist Julie Albright, author of “Left To Their Own Devices,” this is a warning sign.

“More and more young people don’t have real friends,” she said. “AI, especially speaking AI, is learning to replicate human emotional cues through simulated voices and gestures. 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 rarely call, rarely meet in person, and often only text, making chatting with AI no different than texting with a virtual friend. And while humans are complex, frustrating, and full of contradictions, AI is always available, accessible, and “never annoying.”

“A simulated relationship can satisfy our need for connection,” Albright says, “but because of that ease, we are increasingly alienated from real connections, which are challenging but necessary for growth.”

Even Joi AI acknowledges this. Therapist Bronstein says AI can be a “trusted digital friend” that can help fill an emotional void, especially when someone isn’t getting a listening ear from 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 falling in love with an AI chatbot. A similar case occurred in 2023 with a man in Belgium, according to an investigation by Canadian media company Vice.

Experts also warn of potential risks like emotional manipulation, spreading misinformation and psychological dependency. Still, in a world where human connection is increasingly broken, it’s hard to blame those who are simply looking for attention, even from a virtual entity.

It's no surprise that keywords like "love AI" and "feelings for AI" have skyrocketed on Google search, by 132% and 120% respectively in recent times.