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Speaking of Psychology · January 7, 2026 · 38m
What Does It Mean to Have an AI Boyfriend or Girlfriend?
Ashleigh Golden
Psychologists Ashleigh Golden and Rachel Wood discuss the rise of AI companions — what it means to form emotional bonds with artificial entities, how AI relationships affect human connection skills, and the psychological risks and benefits.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Canon
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Golden: rising loneliness — which the Surgeon General has called an epidemic — drives people toward AI companions. But AI companions may deepen loneliness by reducing motivation to form human connections, creating a vicious cycle.
Highlights
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AI companions may weaken real-world social skills through practice displacement
Golden: AI relationships provide social rewards (connection, validation, understanding) without social demands (compromise, patience, tolerating imperfection). People who spend significant time with AI companions may lose practice in the real-world social skills that require effort and discomfort.Was this useful?