Well, here's an article I never thought I'd write.
A few days ago, my dad was telling me about something he heard on the radio, and he said, "He uses that thing you do. You know, the thing that gives you advice."
The "thing that gives me advice" could have been anything — nosy relatives, some of you who don't like that I don't write formally, my weather app — but I finally figured out that he was talking about ChatGPT.
For a long time, as a writer, I was not a big fan of these AI chatbots. I wanted nothing to do with them. I've lost work to them, and I've seen colleagues use them and try to pass it off as their own writing. Once you get the hang of it, it's really obvious to detect when people have used them, and if we all start sounding exactly the same, what's the point? Ethically, I just can't get behind that.
But as I've mentioned before, I did eventually cave and have found a use for these things. I started using ChatGPT last summer when I found myself stuck while trying to get my life organized after a series of unfortunate events, and it's been a big help. I also use it like I once used Google. I ask it questions about things like gardening and cooking — that's what my dad was talking about.
I can say, however, that I've never considered it a friend, companion, or sexual partner. Then again, I'm not a member of Gen Z. Also, I'm not even sure how that would work. I simply used the word "orgasmic" the other day, and the thing lost its mind and told me the word was too risqué. (I was describing some food. Minds out of the gutter, people.)
But back to Gen Z.
ZipHealth conducted a survey of over 1,000 people from the United States and Canada and found that "AI is starting to blur the line between tool and companion." Here are some key takeaways from the survey:
- More than 1 in 2 people (55%) say talking to an AI feels easier than talking to a real person.
- Nearly 1 in 4 people (23%) would consider being physically intimate with a lifelike humanoid robot.
- Nearly 1 in 5 people (19%) have already engaged in romantic or sexual AI interactions, and 1 in 2 of those adults (50%) kept it a secret from their partner.
- More than 1 in 4 Gen Z adults (26%) have already engaged in romantic or sexual interactions with AI.
- 7 in 10 people consider developing romantic feelings for an AI to be cheating.
I found it interesting that Gen Z was more likely to engage in romantic or sexual interactions with AI compared to just 19% of millennials and 14% of Gen X. Men were more likely to engage than women.
However, Gen Z was least likely to trust an AI companion to be more loyal than a human one compared to millennials and Gen X, and the youngest generation was also less likely to believe that AI could replace a real romantic relationship. And 83% of Gen Z members felt that romantic or sexual engagement with AI was a signal of a "growing loneliness crisis."
But is it really?
The survey itself suggests that curiosity (61%) is the number one reason why people engage with AI romantically. Entertainment or humor (48%), exploring fantasies without judgment (34%), emotional comfort or support (33%), sexual gratification or exploration (31%), and practicing social or romantic skills (29%) followed. Loneliness or lack of connection (23%) was actually the last item on the list.
Furthermore, earlier this year, the AI companion platform Joi AI conducted its own survey of 2,500 adults and determined that 55% of Gen Z and millennial AI users consider themselves "AI-sexual," which means they're open to sexual or intimate experimentation with AI. Keep in mind that Joi AI has a vested interest in adults having this desire, but the data is still interesting.
Of the respondents, 61% said they felt more comfortable sharing information with an AI than another human, and 60% say that AI has helped them discover interests they didn't know they had. Around 37% said they use AI to practice flirting for real-life dating, and 33% use it for "sexting or solo play."
In other words, people aren't necessarily trying to replace or make up for a lack of human interaction. They're using these AI chatbots to improve their personal relationships. For what it's worth, only 16% said they use AI for intimacy because they can't find a real-world partner, and 14% said they use it because they don't have time for real relationships right now.
Loneliness is definitely a problem in the United States in 2026, and Gen Z is said to be the loneliest generation, thanks to a variety of things, including growing up with social media and advanced technology, growing up during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fewer places to socialize. For example, when I was a teenager, I hung out at the mall, but malls aren't quite what they were back then. Mental health issues and lack of self-esteem are also thought to be driving factors.
But instead of assuming AI is replacing human companionship, perhaps it's possible that it's giving this generation the help it finally needs to get back out there and interact in the real world — help it didn't receive growing up. Maybe it will assist them with building that self-esteem and having more confidence in their human interactions.
Maybe we older folks who cringe at the idea of flirting with a computer are the equivalent of our parents turning their noses up at the things we do. I know my dad rolls his eyes at me when I'm out in the garden and stop and grab my phone to look something up. "I never needed the internet when I was gardening at your age," he'll say.
Only time will tell how this plays out, I suppose.
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