Artificial Intimacy: Love and lies in the age of AI

AI is becoming a third wheel in relationships, increasingly playing a role in the most intimate parts of our lives. It shows up in the flirty first text, the polished dating profile, the therapized language we use with a partner after a fight, the strength we gather after heartbreak, and everywhere in between. For some, AI is a source of companionship itself. And even if you’re not personally an AI user, you may still be dating, loving, arguing with, or trusting someone who is. As AI moves deeper into our relationships, it’s reshaping connection, blurring what feels authentic, and creating new ways for intimacy to be exploited. AI is starting to replace human interaction AI is moving into emotional territory once reserved for other people. For some, it’s no longer just a tool, but a source of support, companionship, and even romantic connection. According to our recent research, about one in six have turned to a chatbot for companionship or emotional support. That climbs to about one in five among Gen Z and Millennials, and nearly one in four among regular AI users (those who use AI daily or multiple times a week). The more time people spend with AI, the more likely they are to humanize its role, making room for it as a friend, confidant, advisor, or even partner. As AI takes on more intimate roles, it’s also starting to challenge the boundaries of real human relationships. More than one in three (37%) say having a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot while already in a committed relationship isn’t the same as cheating. That view is more common among men (46% versus 30% of women), Gen Z and Millennials (43% and 45%), and regular AI users (48%). Whether the relationship is platonic or romantic, the more AI is treated like a human, the more personal the stakes become. Just like you have to be cautious when telling a human your deepest, darkest secrets, the experience is similar when using AI. Nearly two-thirds (65%) worry that private conversations they’ve had with AI could be exposed. One survey respondent said: “I have used a chatbot…for emotional support, and it is worrying to think those conversations could be leaked.” The technology may be artificial, but the relationships people form with AI can feel very real. And as with any relationship, that means there are boundaries to work out, privacy to protect, and vulnerabilities to manage. AI is creating new ways to weaponize intimacy AI’s growing role in human intimacy also has a darker side. The same technology that can offer comfort, advice, or companionship can also be used to violate the most intimate parts of our lives. Non-consensual image abuse, sextortion, and other forms of sexual abuse have long been part of the internet’s dark side. Generative AI has made that content easier to create. Someone trying to exploit another person no longer needs an actual intimate photo, video, or private exchange. A regular photo—or even just someone’s likeness—can be transformed into sexual content they never made, never shared, and never consented to. Most people draw a clear line against that, but not everyone does. About one in six people say it’s acceptable to generate explicit images of someone without their permission for personal use. Another 14% are neutral, bringing the share who do not explicitly oppose the behavior to nearly one in three (31%). Views differ sharply by age and sex: Younger adults are more accepting of someone using AI to generate non-consensual content: nearly one in four Gen Z (24%) and Millennials (23%) say it’s okay, compared with 13% of Gen X and just 5% of Boomers+ Men are also more permissive: more than one in five (22%) say it’s okay, compared with 14% of women Attitudes toward the behavior may vary, but the fear of becoming a target is far more widespread. Overall, nearly two-thirds of people (62%) worry someone could create fake nude or sexually explicit photos or videos of them. Women feel this threat more acutely: nearly seven in ten (69%) are concerned, compared with 57% of men. For some, this fear has already become a reality: One in ten say AI has been used to generate nude or sexually explicit imagery of them without permission One in ten say someone has threatened to release AI-generated compromising or explicit imagery of them As one respondent recounted: “I had someone make fake nudes of me using AI on my photos from my social media and threaten to post them on Facebook…[it] made me more cautious about AI.” The intimate material may be fake, but the fear, coercion, and potential for reputational, emotional, and financial damage are completely real. AI is making it harder to know who you’re really talking to The threat doesn’t stop with fabricated sexual content. AI is also making it harder to know whether the person on the other side of a screen is who they claim to be. Humans have always edited themselves for other people. We choose the most flattering photo, write and rewrite the text before sending it, and present our most interesting selves—especially when forming new relationships. AI dramatically expands what that kind of self-editing can look like, and people aren’t shy about using it: 54% say AI helps them present the best version of themselves 47% say using AI to present your “best self” to employers, friends, or romantic partners does not present a false identity That rises to 58% of both Gen Z and Millennials and 64% of regular AI users But where does enhancement end and deception begin? Is an AI-polished dating profile still authentically you? What about a message you didn’t write? A photo that looks like you, only better? There’s a flipside to using AI to make ourselves look or sound better: If we can do it, so can everyone else. And people are much less comfortable when they’re not the ones controlling the technology. Two-thirds (67%) worry that an online friend or romantic interest could use AI-generated images, videos, or other content to deceive them. Catfishing , fake photos, and lies on dating profiles aren’t new. AI just makes the deception easier. Someone’s photos, backstory, messages, and even their voice can all be faked. One person described leaving dating apps after realizing the person they were talking to had gone well beyond simply polishing their profile: “[The] dating profile had fake pictures…[it] wasn’t just making true events sound interesting and more flirty, but creating completely false photos and information. Left the dating apps again and needed to reset.” AI can distort identity in the other direction, too. It can also create a version of us we never chose to put into the world. 76% worry about someone creating a fake profile pretending to be them 70% worry about fake images or videos of themselves being created 71% worry AI-generated content could be used to damage their reputation Relationships are built on mutual trust. AI can distort both sides of the connection: who we think the other person is, and who they think we are. AI is quietly finding its way into the space between people Not all of AI’s influence on intimacy is so dramatic. Much of it happens quietly, showing up in how people communicate with each other and navigate relationships: More than one in three have used AI to help write or edit a message About one in seven have turned to it for advice about a relationship or personal decision One in ten say it has already changed how they date or communicate romantically—rising to nearly one in five among Gen Z The survey responses show what this looks like in real life. For example, one respondent described using AI with their partner as a way to step outside their own point of view: “Personally, it has helped me. We use AI in our relationship as a reflection tool, and it has sometimes helped us take on the perspective of the other.” For another, AI helped them work through jealousy: “So, I used to accuse my partner, and I got really territorial about them but once I talked to AI about it, they gave helpful advice and now we are stronger than ever.” AI is also showing up in other difficult relationship moments. One person said it helped them “stay calm and communicate” when problems came up with their partner; another said it allows them “to pause and refine [their] thoughts” before responding. Sometimes the role is simpler. One respondent said AI gives them “new romantic words” for their partner, while another said they’ve asked AI for advice on how to make their partner smile. AI’s growing role in relationships may be unsettling, but the benefits people describe are definitely there. AI isn’t just helping people find the right words. It’s also helping them decide what version of themselves to put forward in the first place. More than one in three say it’s okay to use AI to create or improve a dating profile; nearly two-thirds aren’t opposed. One respondent described using AI as a “creative advisor” to polish their profile and come up with conversation starters. AI doesn’t have to replace a relationship to help shape it. It can influence how people communicate, what advice they take, and how they choose to present themselves. AI’s intimacy problem is ultimately a trust problem From connection to deception to outright harm, the same question keeps surfacing: Can I trust what’s in front of me? And would I know if I couldn’t? Nearly nine in ten people (88%) say AI is making it harder to tell what online content is genuinely human or real. And 84% say even convincing video evidence no longer necessarily feels like proof. That uncertainty follows people into dating and relationships, where knowing what—and who—to trust is deeply personal. AI may make it easier to start a conversation, smooth over a hard one, or feel connected when you’re lonely. But relationships and intimacy of all kinds still come down to trust, and AI is making that trust a little harder to take at face value. About the research The research in this article is based on a March 2026 survey about AI, identity, and the collapse of digital trust and was conducted among 1,500 respondents in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The research was prepared by an independent research consultant and distributed via Forsta. Something feel off? Check it before you click. Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly. 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