Companionship in code: AI’s role in the future of human connection

Marta Andersson ()
Additional contact information
Marta Andersson: Uppsala University

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: As research shows, AI chatbots have increasingly taken on the role of human companions, offering what can be dubbed ‘emotional fast food’: a convenient substitute for connection—instantly gratifying, but ultimately lacking substance. This comment explores how AI mimics emotional understanding and closeness, and how such simulations shape user perceptions of its role. By considering both potential risks and benefits, the article reflects on the growing trend of using AI for companionship and its troubling social ramifications. Far from innocuous, this development raises existential and philosophical questions, inviting consideration of what it reveals about our evolving relationships with technology and with each other.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05536-x Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05536-x

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/palcomms/about

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05536-x

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Palgrave Communications from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().