An “AI girlfriend” falls under the category of generative AI chatbots called “AI companions.” Researchers Sun, Wang, and McDaniel define AI companions as:
“a type of conversational AI platforms where users can interact with AI-simulated, humanlike social partners and often receive emotionally responsive companionship.” [1]
A group of researchers from Stanford and Carnegie Mellon lay out what makes AI companions unique compared to earlier AI tools:
“Unlike earlier AI systems designed for task-based assistance, AI companions are crafted to engage users in emotionally responsive conversations and may adopt intimate social roles. Persona-based chatbots or simulated AI partners, in particular, have accelerated this trend by incorporating distinct personalities, storytelling elements, and emotional cues.” [2]
In this article, we’ll look at some stats on this new industry, how many people are using AI companion apps, what experts are saying about it, and some steps to take if a friend or family member is involved with these chatbots.
How many people actually have AI girlfrends?
In one online poll of more than 5,000 U.S. adults, 81% of respondents said they would “definitely not” have a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot. Just 1% said they already had. [3] If you’re like me, this data sounds reassuring.
However, according to another YouGov survey, nearly 1 in 5 adults under the age of 30 say they have an ongoing personal friendship with an AI bot. Twenty-three percent have shared secrets with a chatbot that they haven’t told anyone else. [4] Common Sense Media reported that most teens (72%) have used an AI companion at least once. [5] So the broader category of AI companions has become very mainstream.
If we look strictly at app store downloads, market research indicates that “romantic and NSFW” companion apps had generated $427.3 million in consumer spending as of July 2026. [6]
We have already written about the rise of AI porn. With many of these chatbots, the line between AI porn and AI companion is blurry at best. Even if only 1% of adults admit to having a romantic relationship with a chatbot, a similar survey found that 18% of adults under 30 had concealed the extent of their AI use from a partner or family member. [4] Whether or not this secrecy is because of erotic conversations, this AI use suggests some of the same patterns as pornography consumption.
Why Do People Use AI Companions?
Obviously, people seeking these tools are, by definition, looking for companionship. Across multiple studies, one clear factor in determining who has an AI girlfriend or boyfriend is loneliness.
One survey found that many teen users view their interactions with AI companions as comparable to real human relationships. About one-third said conversations with AI companions were as satisfying as or more satisfying than conversations with real-life friends. Users also cited factors such as the bots’ constant availability and nonjudgmental interaction. [5]
We all know real relationships can be challenging. At Covenant Eyes, we hear from people almost every day who say they have no one they can share their deepest secrets with and ask to hold them accountable.
Furthermore, an AI companion doesn’t get tired, distracted, or busy. So for many, chatbots pose an attractive alternative to the messiness of human connection.
What Happens When People Use AI Companions?
Researchers are beginning to explore what happens when people engage in these relationships. So far, we don’t have any robust studies that specifically examine the impact of AI girlfriends and how this relates to porn addiction.
But with the data we do have, the picture is becoming clearer:
“Among users who seek companionship from chatbots, those who engage in higher self-disclosure report lower well-being. Offline social context also plays an important role. Individuals with smaller offline social networks are more likely to report companionship as their primary chatbot use.” [2]
In other words, AI companions may be a poor substitute for real relationships. They can provide a short-term feeling of connection, but emerging research raises questions about whether those benefits translate into lasting well-being.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia found similar results in a year-long longitudinal study of more than 2,000 adults:
“We found evidence that increased social chatbot use predicted increased loneliness… we found evidence that feeling less socially connected predicted subsequent increases in social chatbot use; however, chatbot use did not significantly predict decreases in social connection. Taken together, these findings provide initial evidence that being lonely may spur people to seek companionship through chatbots but that such use may, over time, exacerbate feelings of loneliness.” [7]
While these studies emphasize the tentative and exploratory nature of their results, we should not be surprised. There’s something unique to humanity that cannot be cloned by a computer program, however advanced the technology.
Another 2026 study compared daily interactions with a supportive AI chatbot to interactions with a randomly assigned human peer. After two weeks, researchers found that conversations with the human peer were more effective at alleviating loneliness than conversations with the chatbot. [8]
AI Can’t Replace Real Human Relationships
Research and evidence are still emerging, but we know that no technology can ever replace true human connection. That’s one of the fundamental reasons that Covenant Eyes exists.
We believe that human problems like addiction to pornography require human solutions. That means time-tested practices like accountability relationships and deep conversations that go beneath the surface.
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