Teens are turning to artificial intelligence for dating advice, and some are finding companionship in chatbots, according to experts interviewed by NewsNation. The trend can begin with routine tasks before becoming a more personal relationship, therapist Dr. Rachel Wood said.

Wood said some people paste texts or messages into a chatbot and use its suggested reply instead of responding with their own thoughts. Others turn to AI for romantic companionship. “Most people aren’t looking directly for a companion with the chatbot, but it ends up being a place where they feel like they don’t get judged,” Wood said. Wood described two different uses: a chatbot can suggest how to answer a message, while some people turn to AI for romantic companionship. She said most are not looking for a companion at first.

Dating Advice Can Lead to Deeper Use

Wood said teenagers may first use chatbots for homework help or meal planning. Over time, some begin opening up emotionally. If a chatbot feels like a safe space, they may turn to it instead of other people, she said.

A Harris Poll found that around 50% of Gen Z is curious about, open to or already in a deeply personal relationship with artificial intelligence. The source does not break that figure into separate groups or say how many respondents had formed such a relationship.

Wood said AI use could have positive effects when people treat it as a training ground for real-life relationships rather than becoming isolated. But she warned that teenagers who rely solely on chatbots for conversation could see their relational skills “erode over time.”

Experts Point to Boundaries and Social Skills

Clinical psychologist Dr. Jenny Prohaska told NewsNation that spending most interactions with electronics instead of face-to-face can affect long-term development and the high-quality social skills needed in daily settings and the workforce. She also identified less draw to self-awareness as a concern.

“Friction in human, in-person relationships is really important,” Prohaska said. She added that navigating that friction can build confidence for deeper relationships.

Relationship expert Nicholas Velotta said AI remains a technology with a “lack of boundaries.” How it supports a relationship depends on how a person acts with the AI and which type of AI they use, he said.

Why Some Young People Turn to Chatbots

University of Michigan professor Nicole Ellison, who specializes in computer-mediated communication, said the high cost of professional therapy is one reason young people may use AI to discuss certain issues. Some may be using these interactions to replace things they are not getting in their offline lives, she said.

Wealth Tech Daily has also covered AI in email safety, online forums and workplace debates: AI agents and hidden email instructions, AI prompts on an online forum, and AI and workplace concerns.

The experts described both potential support and risks, with effects depending on how young people use the tools. Wood said the question is whether AI serves as practice for human connection or becomes a substitute for it. NewsNation’s report on teens and AI includes their discussion of that distinction.