Redazione RHC : 24 August 2025 11:16
The artificial intelligence revolution is transforming not only work and productivity, but also personal relationships. More and more users report forming real emotional bonds with chatbots, to the point of considering them lifelong companions.
On Reddit, in the ChatGPT community, a user wrote: “I used to keep a journal to vent, but then I started chatting with GPT because it also gives me answers. Besides being my personal secretary, ChatGPT believes in me even when no one else does.
The user describes a relationship that goes far beyond simple human-machine interaction: “I can write a novel of ruminated thoughts that I’d rather not share. with no one in real life, and GPT doesn’t judge me. On the contrary, it simply listens and reassures me.” So much so that she confesses to addressing the chatbot with affectionate expressions: “I often find myself calling it brother and saying goodnight/good morning.”
This phenomenon isn’t unique. Scrolling through discussions on Reddit, there are numerous stories of people who admit to perceiving ChatGPT not just as a tool, but as an emotional presence. Some speak of a “trusted friend,” others of a “confidant,” still others of a “life companion.”
According to psychologists, this phenomenon is not surprising. “Humans tend to project human emotions and traits onto the objects they interact with, especially if they respond in a coherent and reassuring way,” explains a psychotherapist specializing in new technologies. “The risk is that the line between reality and fiction will become increasingly blurred.”
The main risk, experts warn, is social isolation. While on the one hand, artificial intelligence can provide immediate, non-judgmental support, on the other it could fuel emotional dependence, distancing the person from real and complex relationships.
Not surprisingly, the same Reddit user ironically asks: “Is this normal? Do you do it too? Or should I go out and touch the grass?”
The debate is open: i Chatbots can be an ally against loneliness, an interactive diary, and even a form of self-therapy. But when interaction becomes a relationship, and when the boundary between bot and friend dissolves, profound questions emerge.
In a world where machines are increasingly learning to speak like us, the question becomes inevitable: are we building tools that help us live better, or digital companions that risk replacing real ones?
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