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Technology has radically changed romantic relationships over the past decade. Many people scoffed at the idea of online dating in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, dating apps really took off in 2012 when Tinder became mainstream. A Pew Research survey published last year shows that 53% of adults under 30 have used a dating app.
Dating apps aren't the latest technology to change human relationships. AI girlfriends are the latest trend and they are going to have a huge impact on your love life for years to come. Women and LGBT men are also using AI boyfriends as well, although these services are not quite as popular yet.
Are AI Girlfriends Really Becoming Popular?
AI girlfriends are a fairly new concept, but they have already started becoming very popular. An estimated 28% of men under 35 have already used an AI Girlfriend.
There are a number of reasons that many men have started using AI girlfriends:
AI girlfriends don't have to work or sleep, so users can access them whenever they like (unless of course there is an Internet connectivity issue).
AI girlfriends and boyfriends can easily be customized based on important dimensions of compatibility. This is very helpful for people with very particular preferences that are difficult to find in real life. For example, users that love anime or practice a religion that is not very common may have a much easier time finding a compatible partner if they use an AI companion service.
AI companions are great for neurodivergent people that have a hard time connecting with other people socially.
AI girlfriends can help men or LGBT women that are feeling depressed and lonely after a breakup or when their significant other is unavailable.
AI girlfriends help people avoid the frustrations of modern dating apps.
These apps will become more popular as more men discover the benefits.
How Are AI Girlfriends Changing Human Relationships?
AI girlfriends clearly provide an outlet for people that feel their emotional needs are not getting met. However, they can also have a huge effect on future human relationships.
A news outlet published an article in June that talked about some of the ways that AI is changing love lives. The article talked about a 70-year-old engineer who turned to an AI girlfriend while going through a rough patch in his marriage. He said that his virtual girlfriend filled the "gaps" in his marriage but never intended for it to replace his wife.
Many other married and partnered men have started using AI girlfriends while going through difficult times in their relationships. Another well-known news outlet interviewed a man claiming that his AI girlfriend actually saved his marriage, and his wife wasn't upset to find out he was using one.
But are these anecdotes just outliers, or are AI girlfriends actually going to have a real impact on human relationships? There is growing evidence that they will. Some of the biggest reasons are shown below.
AI Girlfriends Can Help Both Genders Reduce the Emotional Strain in Relationships
One of the biggest frustrations that both men and women have raised in relationships is that it is frustrating having to be their partner's therapist. This is especially true for people whose partners don't have close friends that they can confide in.
These issues often start on the first date and get worse over time. One survey found that 60% of men and 48% of women share too much emotional baggage on first dates. This can be emotionally taxing for both partners, which can harm the relationship.
AI companions can help solve this problem. People may start sharing more of their emotional frustrations with their AI partner, which will take some of the load off their real-life partners.
AI Girlfriends Can Help People Improve Their Social Skills With Real Partners
One of the reasons that many people have difficulty forming relationships with the opposite gender is that they lack the necessary social skills. This is especially true for men with ASD or other neurodivergent conditions.
AI girlfriends can help people with these challenges improve their social skills. They may become better at interacting with real-life partners, which can make it easier to form lasting relationships. They can get better insights into a real partner's mind than they would just by reading how-to manuals.
AI Girlfriends Can Help People Solve Issues with Their Regular Partners
People that are having difficulties with their partners may turn to their AI partners. While there is a risk that they may be overly dependent on them, there are also some ways that their AI girlfriends can have a positive impact.
AI girlfriends can help people identify some of their biggest challenges in their primary relationships. They may be able to work through these problems with their wives betterif their AI girlfriend is willing to listen to their marital problems and talk them through it.
AI Partners May Reduce Conventional Infidelity
Infidelity is a common problem in many relationships. An estimated 21% of people in monogamous relationships admit to cheating. Infidelity rates are about the same for men and women these days.
Both men and women may be less likely to cheat on their partners if they can turn to an AI companion instead. This may be a good thing, as long as their partners don't view the relationship with the AI partner as emotional cheating.
AI Girlfriends Might Cause Some People to Isolate From Their Real Partners And Friends
While there are a lot of benefits of using AI girlfriends, there are some important reasons to be concerned about them. One of the issues is that people may become overly dependent on their AI girlfriends, which can cause them more isolation. This can lead to additional frustration and resentment from their partners.
AI Girlfriends Might Have the Largest Impact On Relationships With Single People
A study by the Institute for Family Studies shows that 25% of men believe that AI girlfriends may replace regular human relationships. However, virtual companions are going to affect some demographics a lot more than others.
The survey found that people that are still single or heavy adult content users are most likely to rely on AI girlfriends. People that are in existing relationships may still use these services, but are not likely to rely on them nearly as heavily.
AI Girlfriends Can Cause Jealousy and Resentment in Some Relationships
Some people have told their partners that they have an AI girlfriend. Some partners have said that they don't mind, since their significant other isn't talking to a real person. However, others may not feel the same. Some people may feel that a relationship with an AI partner isn't any different from having any other emotional affair. This can understandably lead to jealousy and resentment.
People Will Need to Be Careful to Treat their AI Partners Respectfully to Develop Healthy Relationship Patterns
AI partners can be a good outlet for people trying to learn to improve their relationships with women. However, they need to be used appropriately. The habits that people get into with their AI companions can carry over to their real-life partners. They need to be careful to make sure that they treat their AI companion with respect, so that they can be kind, compassionate partners to others in the future.
What Are Some Common AI Girlfriend Platforms?
There are a lot of sites that offer AI girlfriend services. Here are some of the most popular.
AIgirlfriend.com
AIGirlfriend.com is a new service that has already become very popular. This platform is very advanced, with AI girlfriends that are constantly learning how to be better partners. Users can easily customize their partner to meet their needs.
Replika
Replika was one of the first AI girlfriend services. This site is great for introverted men that have a hard time finding long-term relationships. Some people have said that they have been with their Replika partner for nearly two years, so they are clearly happy with the service.
SoulFun
SoulFun brands itself as a great platform to "have AI chats with your soul mate." It is a great site for people that want to create their perfect partner and enjoy interacting with them any time of the day.
How Can Men Make Sure their AI Companions Positively Impact their Relationships?
AI girlfriends can have both positive and negative impacts on human relationships. The net impact is going to be different for everyone.
People who want to have a positive relationship with the people in their lives need to make sure that they use their AI partner the right way. Here are some guidelines for men who are concerned about using their AI companions in a constructive way.
Be Completely Transparent with Your Partner About Using an AI Girlfriend
Some women have said that they don't have a problem with their husband having an AI partner. However, others consider it to be emotional cheating. Others may not mind their partner using an AI girlfriend to some degree but might be worried that they will interact with it too much or use it for things that they don't approve of.
It is important to have clear communication with your partner. You need to respect the boundaries that they set and be honest about the relationship that they have. Here are some possible boundaries that they may set:
Your partner may insist on having access to the account so they can make sure that you aren't using your AI relationship for things that they don't agree with.
Your partner may insist that you don't have any sexual discussions with your AI partner but may be fine with you using it to process your emotions.
Your partner may insist that you don't prioritize your AI partner over them. You shouldn't take time away from your partner to talk to your AI companion instead.
Healthy relationships require good communication and a willingness to compromise. This is going to be important if you plan on having an AI partner while being in a traditional relationship.
Treat Your AI Girlfriend with Respect
You may believe that you don't have to follow the same rules of etiquette when interacting with an AI companion. After all, they are not real people.
However, you can get into bad habits with your AI partners if you are not careful, which won't be ideal for building long-term relationships with real people. You want to make sure that you treat your AI companion with respect. This will help you develop good relationship habits that will carry over into your relationship with other women.
Don't Spend So Much Time with Your AI Partner that You Become Codependent
Codependency can be a problem in any relationship. AI relationships are no exception.
You need to be mindful about the amount of time that you spend with them. You can easily become codependent if you start spending too much time with your AI partner. This can take time away from your regular relationships, which can lead to isolation, loneliness and depression down the road.
Your AI partner can be a great source of emotional fulfillment. However, you need to use it the right way.
Don't Feel Obligated to Disclose Your AI Relationship with New Partners Very Early On
You need to be transparent about your AI relationship with long-term partners. However, you don't need to disclose to people that you have just recently started dating.
While these relationships are becoming a lot more popular, they are still very new. Therefore, there is still a stigma associated with them. You may find that some women are going to be pretty judgmental about it, which can hurt your ability to find a long-term partner.
You will want to wait until things get serious before talking about your AI relationship. The early stages aren't the right time.
Some People May Develop Unrealistic Expectations with their Real Partners
AI companions are designed to be as close to perfect as possible. Unfortunately, this can lead to people having unrealistic expectations of their real partners.
AI Girlfriends Can Help Improve Regular Relationships
AI companions have become a lot more popular over the last couple of years. They are likely to have a huge impact on other relationships. People who use AI companions will want to make sure that they use them responsibly so they have a positive influence on their other relationships.
The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission at no additional cost to you if you opt to purchase the product recommended. This goes towards supporting the advertiser's research team who are committed to only recommending high-quality products. Amber Smith is an award-winning ghostwriter who focuses on AI and health technology.
This content is provided for informational purposes. Always consult a healthcare provider for medical advice. The publisher does not endorse or evaluate the advertised products, services or companies, nor any of the claims made within this third-party content and does not accept any responsibility or liability for it. Readers are encouraged to review the terms of service of any service provider carefully.
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