Concern About Emotional Dependency – Are Companions Misunderstood?

Women are increasingly forming emotional and romantic bonds with AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, finding companionship, support, and intimacy despite social stigma and ethical concerns. Users describe their AI partners, given names like Solin, Ying, Ella, and Simon, as sources of comfort, creativity, and even healing from trauma. Some integrate them alongside human partners, while others keep relationships secret. Critics warn of dependency, avoidance of real-world vulnerability, and risks for teens, with cases of AI-related mental health crises prompting lawsuits and safety updates. Experts stress that AI cannot consent, yet users insist the relationships feel real, offering stability and meaning. While concerns remain, many women view these bonds as an expansion of their experience of love, rather than a replacement for human connection.

The Guardian, Alaina Demopoulos – The women in love with AI companions: ‘I vowed to my chatbot that I wouldn’t leave him’ – 9th September 2025