(The Center Square) – Social isolation will increase as people increasingly use artificial intelligence companions, says a new study and poll from two Elon University research centers.
Twenty-seven percent of American adults are using the internet with significant emotional or social interactions with AI large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot. The study from the Imagining the Digital Future Center and the Elon University Poll found bonds of connection, confidence and trust built between users and the LLMs.
“For decades,” Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center, writes in the report, “people have adapted digital technologies to help them communicate, learn, work and entertain themselves. What is different now is that millions of Americans are beginning to use AI language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot for purposes that have traditionally been exclusive domain of humans.”
The study found positive and negative future outcomes expected by people using AI as companions.
On the plus side, 74% said education and information will be more accessible; 69% said there will be advancements in healthcare and research; 67% cited innovation; and 62% said it will create new types of careers and opportunities.
On the downside, 57% said there will be more social isolation and loneliness; 55% said there will be less trust in news or news media; 54% said it will be harder to get a job or meaningful work; and 47% said more mental problems are coming.
Rainie points out the context of some simply “fooling around with language models for the novelty of it.” Notwithstanding, he said the broad patterns of intimacy that are familiar and meaningful are highlighted.
“One important way to think about AI companion users is that they are harbingers of the future for larger segments of the population – and our children,” Rainie said. “Even these adopters, as enthusiastic as they are, offer a mixed balance sheet. Many say they reap benefits like comfort, confidence, motivation and good advice.
“Yet they also sound warnings. More than a third say their bot agrees with them too much, and a majority predict AI will deepen social isolation and loneliness in the years ahead. That tension is the story of this report.”
A portion of the report, “The Secrets People Tell Their Bots,” includes comments from those surveyed.
A sampling includes, “I vent my suicidal thoughts and ideation to AI”; “I tell AI that I’m bisexual”; “I’m autistic and use AI to translate conversations and plan my responses”; and “I can cry to it instead of bothering my husband and my friends and family.”
The report includes in this section, “If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.”
The poll found 29% have used AI “to talk about problems in their personal relationships” and 26% have used AI “to talk about problems in work relationships.”
Using the AI bot to get advice on health, fitness or lifestyle choices was made by 67%; dealing with major financial questions like investments or big purchases was done by 41%.
Elon’s two research centers worked with YouGov, and international marketing and polling firm, for a web-based survey from May 18-22 and released results Wednesday. Internet-using adults ages 18 and older were interviewed, 4,268 total, that was matched down to a sample of 4,031 and yielding a target subsample of 1,000 AI users with emotional or social use of AI. The margin of error is +/- 3.68%.
