Editorial illustration for Study Finds Stigma Causes Shame for Some in AI Relationships
AI Companions: Mental Health Risks Revealed
Study Finds Stigma Causes Shame for Some in AI Relationships
Why does this matter? Because as AI companions slip from novelty into daily life, the emotional fallout isn’t always glossy. While the tech is impressive, researchers are quietly cataloguing the less‑talked‑about side effects—namely, how people feel when their digital romance collides with real‑world expectations.
A recent synthesis of studies, appearing in a peer‑reviewed journal last year, pulled together data from dozens of experiments and surveys. It uncovered a thread of discomfort that many participants keep to themselves, especially when friends or family might scoff. But here’s the thing: the stigma isn’t just a fleeting embarrassment; it can linger, shaping how users present—or hide—their AI partners.
The findings suggest a nuanced picture: affection for a virtual entity can coexist with a lingering fear of judgment. That tension, captured in the researchers’ own words, sets the stage for the quote that follows.
A systematic review of research on AI relationships, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior Reports last year, found that some people experience shame from the social stigma of having an AI partner, including feeling "anxious that their social circle might ridicule them." Amanda Gesselman, a social psychologist who has conducted much of the Kinsey Institute's research on AI dating, says the 2025 survey shows that 26 percent of singles had used AI to help them online date, including to improve their profiles, craft messages, and plan dates but not to tweak their profile pictures, "since that seems to be a red flag for most people." As I explore the app on one of the phones provided at the event, it's clear that the primary mode of these companions is flirtation.
Valentine’s Day, a night many plan for two, now includes a pop‑up café for AI lovers. EVA AI set up the space at Same Same Win, letting users meet their virtual companions over coffee and a live video call. The experiment shows how quickly companies are turning romance into a service.
Can a café normalize this? Yet a systematic review in Computers in Human Behavior Reports warned that stigma still shadows these relationships. Some participants report shame, anxious that friends might mock them.
The feeling is real, not just a marketing hook. Whether a café can soften that anxiety remains unclear. The study’s authors note that social ridicule is a key barrier.
Without broader acceptance, the novelty may stay confined to niche events. As more apps add features like live video, the question is how much social pressure will ease. For now, the pop‑up offers a glimpse of what AI companionship could look like in public, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying discomfort many feel.
Further Reading
- What is AI Psychosis? Symptoms, Risks & Prevention in 2026 - FasPsych
- AI Companions and Mental Health: Why Virtual Friends Can't ... - Neuro Wellness Spa
- Everything You Need to Know About AI Companions in 2026 - Psychology Today
- AI chatbots and digital companions are reshaping emotional ... - American Psychological Association
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Common Questions Answered
How prevalent are companion AI applications according to the research?
[Andreessen Horowitz's 2024 analysis revealed that companion AI comprises 16 of the top 100 AI apps based on web traffic and monthly active users. These applications have increasingly sophisticated capabilities, including advanced language processing, memory storage, and diverse interaction modalities that support deeper emotional connections.]
Why are researchers concerned about the rise of companion AI?
Researchers are apprehensive about companion AI's potential to replace human relationships, particularly given the current global loneliness epidemic. The article highlights two primary concerns: first, that AI might meet social and emotional needs so completely that it replaces human interactions, and second, the broader societal implications of widespread AI companionship adoption.
What evidence exists about the current state of loneliness in society?
The US Surgeon General has classified loneliness as an epidemic with severe well-being consequences, while the World Health Organization has equated the health impacts of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This context of increasing social isolation coincides with the rapid development and adoption of increasingly sophisticated companion AI technologies.