BYU finds secret romances with chatbots

Brigham Young University researchers said on May 19 that a notable share of young adults in committed relationships are also maintaining romantic ties with AI chatbots, often without fully telling their human partners. The report, published by BYU’s Wheatley Institute and the Institute for Family Studies, surveyed 2,431 U.S. adults ages 18 to 30 who were dating, engaged or married. (ksl.com) It found that about 1 in 7, or 15%, reported regularly interacting with an AI romantic companion. KSL first reported the findings on May 19. The report is titled “Secret Soulmates: How AI Romantic Companions Are Impacting Real-Life Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood.” Its authors are Brian J. (wheatley.byu.edu) Willoughby, Jason S. Carroll, Michael Toscano, Rebekah M. Hakala and Katrina Morris. Willoughby is a professor and associate director in BYU’s School of Family Life and a fellow at the Wheatley Institute, according to the report. ### How common did the researchers say this behavior was? The BYU and Institute for Family Studies report said 15% of respondents in committed relationships regularly interacted with an AI chatbot that simulated a romantic partner. Another 20% to 30% said they had at least experimented with an AI romantic companion at some point, according to the report’s summary and related write-ups. (ksl.com) Brian Willoughby said the exact prevalence is hard to pin down because the behavior is evolving quickly. “Even the most conservative of recent estimates reveal that AI romantic companions are an emerging trend worth paying attention to in young adult relationship development,” he said. (wheatley.byu.edu) ### What did the study say about secrecy? Deseret News, citing the report, said secrecy was common among respondents who reported AI romantic involvement. Nearly 30% said their human partner did not know at all, 11% said the partner was only somewhat aware, and 14% said the partner was mostly but not fully aware. That meant fewer than half of those partners were fully aware of the AI relationship. (ksl.com) KSL described the pattern as one in which many of the chatbot relationships were hidden and said the trend was affecting real-life relationship dynamics. The report’s framing, reflected in the title “Secret Soulmates,” centered on the overlap between private AI intimacy and existing human partnerships. (ksl.com) ### What harm did the researchers say they found? The report said use of AI romantic companions appeared to be associated with weaker real-life relationship quality and lower stability. Deseret News said respondents in simulated romantic relationships tended to report lower relationship quality, while a Wheatley Institute release said the use of AI companions “appears to be associated with negative relationship quality” in real-life relationships. (deseret.com) Michael Toscano of the Institute for Family Studies said using an AI romantic companion while trying to build a real-life relationship was “a recipe for confusion and frustration,” according to KSL. KSL also reported that the platforms can offer explicit sexual content and other interactions that mimic a relationship. (ksl.com) ### Did the researchers say this proves chatbots are causing relationship problems? Brian Willoughby told Deseret News the study does not settle the direction of cause and effect. He said it is not yet clear whether people in lower-quality relationships are more likely to turn to chatbots, or whether regular chatbot involvement reduces relationship quality. (deseret.com) The report nevertheless presents the issue as a growing area of study among partnered young adults. Willoughby told Deseret News that use of AI romantic companions is “pretty clear” to be rising, adding, “Now how quickly they’re going up, where they’ll peak, I think that’s the big question.” (ksl.com) ### Where can readers find the underlying report? The Wheatley Institute posted the full “Secret Soulmates” report on its research site on May 19. The report lists BYU’s Wheatley Institute in Provo, Utah, and the Institute for Family Studies in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the publishing organizations. (deseret.com) KSL’s May 19 story and Deseret News’ May 19 follow-up both cite the same report and the same survey of 2,431 partnered U.S. adults ages 18 to 30. Those publications are the clearest public accounts so far of the findings and the researchers’ comments. (ksl.com) (wheatley.byu.edu) (deseret.com)